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
Evoking the concept of kingdoms while exploring diverse expressions of power, the pieces span empires, kingdoms, city-states, chiefdoms, and figures from divine rulers to heroic leaders.
—
Essence, 3 June 2025
It was initially applied to the dominance of one city-state over others.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Singapore’s imports look huge because that city-state is often the first stop on the way to their final destination in other parts of Asia.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Phoenicians gave the world its first alphabet and were formidable sea merchants and colonizers, establishing city-states throughout the central and western Mediterranean.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Essence, 3 June 2025
It was initially applied to the dominance of one city-state over others.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Singapore’s imports look huge because that city-state is often the first stop on the way to their final destination in other parts of Asia.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Phoenicians gave the world its first alphabet and were formidable sea merchants and colonizers, establishing city-states throughout the central and western Mediterranean.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-state
Noun
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In the long term, the collapse of that pillar of regime stability could weaken the edifice of the Islamic republic itself.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
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Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisted the president was simply asking if the Iranian people might want a new government, not suggesting the U.S. would lead a fight to overthrow the Islamic republic.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
23 June 2025
Noun
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More than translation Spanish Jews who refused to convert in 1492, meanwhile, had been forced into exile and barred from the kingdom’s colonies.—
Flora Cassen,
The Conversation,
27 June 2025
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Over the course of 12 episodes and a sequel special, viewers see the decimation of a kingdom at the hand of a flesh-eating virus, and survivors can only fend off the undead with armor, swords, bows, and arrows.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Despite the order, he was arrested and deported in March after Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, which allows officials to expedite deportations of citizens of an enemy nation during periods of invasion or wartime.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
25 June 2025
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Fighting a nation of hope is a game that ends in ashes for its enemies.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Great Britain, in alliance with the Dutch Republic and Habsburg Spain, opposed France’s efforts to install a Bourbon French prince, fearing a united Franco-Spanish empire.—
Aurora Martínez,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 June 2025
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Her arrest comes 18 days after Lopez and four others were accused of establishing what prosecutors called a multi-million dollar casino empire before he was elected in 2020.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The Republican president earlier told reporters that the U.S. was soon preparing to send letters to different countries, informing them of the new tariff rate his administration would impose on them.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 June 2025
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Decoding The Gas Buyer’s Mindset For a country that has revolved around the automobile for almost a century, gas prices are part of American culture.—
Linnea Geiss,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Known collectively as Hessians, since most Germans hired by London to fight in America came from Hesse-Kassel, this contingent was largely from the small, impoverished duchy of Brunswick, whose ruling family had intermarried with the British royal family.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
13 June 2025
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The duchy is also partnering with local organizations to address homelessness, a key focus of his royal work in recent years.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Virginia, expressed his hope that the Trump administration would keep NSF in the commonwealth, but at a different location.—
Joanna Thompson,
Space.com,
26 June 2025
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With chaos in Washington threatening to make life more expensive for families in the Roanoke area and throughout our commonwealth, Virginians deserve leaders who will put partisan politics aside and work together to offer families real relief.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Last year, hometown hero Charles Leclerc took the victory in the principality.—
Kanzah Maktoum,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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Rival principalities, contesting ethnicities/nationalities, and at least three versions of Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian), have roiled the hodgepodge.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-state. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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