as in republic
a state that has its own government and consists of a city and the area around it
the city-states of ancient Greece
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Recent Examples of city-state
The issue is a critical one for the Southeast Asian city-state of 6 million people.
—
Chris Wellisz, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
His route to Sparta would have taken him through Corinth, Nemea, and Arcadia and avoided kingdoms or city-states not allied with Athens.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
The people who say that should visit C2E2, which, year after year, invariably comes together into a South Loop city-state for three days.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
In the wealthy city-state of Singapore, migrant workers are excluded from the country’s Employment Act and limits on working hours, among other protections, and are restricted from participating in union activities, the report said.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Chris Wellisz, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
His route to Sparta would have taken him through Corinth, Nemea, and Arcadia and avoided kingdoms or city-states not allied with Athens.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
The people who say that should visit C2E2, which, year after year, invariably comes together into a South Loop city-state for three days.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
In the wealthy city-state of Singapore, migrant workers are excluded from the country’s Employment Act and limits on working hours, among other protections, and are restricted from participating in union activities, the report said.
—Elaine Kurtenbach, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-state
Noun
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Like other Republican proponents, Gaskill is framing the vote as important for the history of the republic.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
12 Dec. 2025
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Tuscan maritime republics provided sailors with 400 grams of biscuits per day.—
Vittoria Traverso,
Popular Science,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The autonomous territory of about 156,000 sits within the Netherlands kingdom and only became a FIFA member in 2011.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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He's always seen himself like a prince who never became king, so the kingdom be damned.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Noun
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The overall score is based on a nation’s performance across 38 indicators in 12 categories, including tax treatment, rule of law, quality of life, investor and high-net-worth migration pathways, family inclusion, geopolitical stability, and capital mobility.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
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Policies of the current federal administration and in certain states have imperiled our global leadership and prospects for the next generations of aspiring scholars of science with the potential for significant damage to our nation’s public health and biomedical and industrial leadership.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Especially from a woman who’s apparently about to launch a crackah empire!—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
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Elon Musk and SpaceX Elon Musk’s vast empire includes everything from from rockets to brain implants.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Noun
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More than one-third of Tuvalu’s 11,000 population applied for a climate visa to migrate to Australia, under a deal struck between the two countries two years ago.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
12 Dec. 2025
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Sarah Morrison, Wilson Central The school's math department head, Morrison teaches Algebra 2, AP Calculus and also coaches cross country.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The duchy was created nearly 700 years ago by Edward III as a way to consistently fund the heir to the throne.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
25 May 2026
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The European duchy is Luxembourg.—
Drew Goins,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Pennsylvania lawmakers will announce measures to restrict ICE activity in the commonwealth.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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But like the eastern side of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this side's history will be put on full display with countless events spanning from the Cultural District to the North Shore and beyond.—
Josh Taylor,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Hot rod enthusiast Michael Douglas also made the trip to the principality, wife Catherine Zeta-Jones was at his side.—
Séraphine Roger,
Vanity Fair,
7 June 2026
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While Monaco’s most familiar draws remain high-octane, glitzy events like the Formula One Grand Prix and the Yacht Show, there are quieter ways to experience this tiny principality.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-state. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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