as in fortresses
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
a massive stone citadel continues to command the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of citadels
The story is a bit murkier than Manichaean talk of stormers and citadels.
—
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Archaeologists have identified citadels and temple sites all along Vietnam's coast and throughout the mountains of Laos and Cambodia.
—Michelle Jana Chan, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2023
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Archaeologists have identified citadels and temple sites all along Vietnam's coast and throughout the mountains of Laos and Cambodia.
—Michelle Jana Chan, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for citadels
Noun
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Surface tanks are targets; subsurface reservoirs are fortresses.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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France believed its Maginot Line of fortresses was impregnable – until the Germans simply went around it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The filmmakers travel through Roma villages in the nation’s countryside —hard-core Fidesz strongholds — to uncover a wide network of bribery and blackmail.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The outcome could show whether Modi’s party can extend its dominance by making inroads into opposition strongholds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The surge in costs reflects a major shift for Chicago, known as one of the last bastions of big-city affordability.—
Bloomberg,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Israeli officials further compounded those fears Wednesday, with Avichay Adraee, Israel’s Arabic-language spokesman, accusing Hezbollah of moving beyond its traditional bastions of support in the southern suburbs of the capital and embedding itself in north Beirut and mixed neighborhoods.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Over many years, Iran has built underground fortifications and facilities to protect its missile and drone inventory.—
Daniel Kurtzer,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
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Javelin missile systems are portable antitank weapons also designed to destroy low-flying helicopters and other fortifications.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Here are six of the most notable castles in Italy.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Eventually building sand castles at the beach with his kids.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These individuals shaped Charleston’s politics and economy by building canals, roads, bridges, forts— virtually all the colony’s infrastructure—but their contributions were not documented and their names are unknown.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
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Massive cannons were stationed at forts across the world, while smaller and more-portable guns accompanied troops and naval (and pirate) vessels.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Citadels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/citadels. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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