Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others that have been tried.
Source: tatoeba (1550)
Government
/ˈɡʌv.ɚ.mənt/
Synonyms for "government" (197 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (40)
administrationarchbishopricarchdiocesearrondissementauspicesauthoritybailiwickbishopricboroughbureaucracycantoncarechargecitycivicsclawsclutchescommandcommuneconduct
Show 9 more words
Adjective(2 words)
british governmentcurrent regime
Strong matches (59)
diocesedirectiondisciplinedispensationdispositiondistrictdominationdominionduchyelectoral districtelectorateemperyempireexecutivegeopoliticsgeopolitikgovernancegripguardianshipguidance
Show 22 more words
hamlethandhandlinghandshundredhusbandryinternational relationsiron handjohn bulljurisdictionkeepingkreisleadleadingmagistracymanagementmanagerymanagingmanipulationmetropolismetropolitan areaministry
Noun(15 words)
dutch colonial governmentenglish stateexecutivegovgoverninggovernment activitygovernmentalissueritalian governokokkakremlinleadershipmyriarchynational administrationnational governance
Adjective(2 words)
governing systemnational authority
Related words (98)
Noun(24 words)
oblastokrugorderingoversightparishpastoragepastoratepastorshippatronagepilotagepoli-scipolitical behaviorpolitical economypolitical geographypolitical philosophypolitical sciencepolitical theorypoliticspolitypower
Show 51 more words
precinctprincipalityprotectorshipprovincepublic administrationrajregimeregionregnancyregulationreignridingrulerunningsafe handssheriffaltysheriffwickshireshrievaltysokesovereigntystakestatesteeragesteeringstewardshipsuperintendencesupervisionswaytalonsterritorythe authoritiesthe connthe crownthe establishmentthe governmentthe helmthe wheeltowntownshiptutelageuncle samvillagewapentakewardwardenshipwardshipwashingtonwatch and wardwhitehallwing
Adjective(3 words)
political authorityruling authoritiesstrong political structure
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: administration, governance, administration, administrative, archbishopric.
- Sentence evidence is available for government, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "government".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "government"
Keep "government" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "government" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "government", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "government" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesadministrativeauthorityinstitutionleadershiporganizationpoliticalpolitical institutionpolitical processpolitypublicpublic institutionpublic servicesocial controlsocial sciencesocial systemsystem
Showing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
18 entriesShowing 16 of 18 words.
Collocations
11 entriescolonial governmentfederal governmentgovernment agencygovernment fundinggovernment officialgovernment policygovernment programgovernment schoollocal governmentmunicipal governmentnational government
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
6 entriesSample sentences
20 total sentences available.
The French government has launched an online game that challenges taxpayers to balance the national budget.
Source: tatoeba (1735)
Denying she was an anarchist, Katja maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it.
Source: tatoeba (1903)
The politician pushed for reform by denouncing the corruption of the government officials.
Source: tatoeba (2020)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "government"?
Closest matches include administration, governance, administration, administrative, archbishopric.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "government"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.