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
Walk around the block in the colonial heartland of this affluent city-state and tourists are snapping away at famous 19th century hotel Raffles, while others make a beeline for the opulent Long Bar where the original Singapore Sling cocktail was concocted.
—
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The Southeast Asian city-state estimates that the surrounding seas could rise by 1.15 meters (3.8 feet) by the end of this century.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 23 July 2025
In the fifth century BC, the Delian League of Greek city-states defeated the Persian Empire; in 1815, the Grand Alliance of Austria, the United Kingdom, Prussia, and Russia joined forces to vanquish Napoleon’s France.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
San Diego has all the ingredients to become a city-state in function, if not in law.
—John Eger, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
The Southeast Asian city-state estimates that the surrounding seas could rise by 1.15 meters (3.8 feet) by the end of this century.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 23 July 2025
In the fifth century BC, the Delian League of Greek city-states defeated the Persian Empire; in 1815, the Grand Alliance of Austria, the United Kingdom, Prussia, and Russia joined forces to vanquish Napoleon’s France.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
San Diego has all the ingredients to become a city-state in function, if not in law.
—John Eger, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-state
Noun
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The Fifth Republic, founded by President de Gaulle in 1958, was designed to end the chronic instability that had plagued France’s Third and Fourth republics earlier in the 20th century.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
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The Founders were part-time statesmen whose duty was to put the long-term interests of the fledgling republic ahead of personal interests.—
Les Rubin,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hence, the Hollow Knight is starting to crack, and is leaking Radiance all over the place, which is why the bugs of the kingdom have lost their minds.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Over the past two decades the kingdom has largely been ruled by the Shinawatras or their proxies, or the military.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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America is a nation shaped by political violence and steeped in its aftershocks.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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Modi was responding to a post by Trump on Truth Social, which said that New Delhi and Washington were continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers between both nations.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The first part of the movie is devoted to taking us inside his local empire of warped belief, which skews right-wing.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, Bad Boy Records, which is just one part of Combs' business empire, has sold more than half a billion records.—
Gina Barton,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed for foreign fighters to join his country’s International Legion, which supplements the army’s ranks to counter Russia’s incursion.—
Rebecca Johns,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Dryden also represented his country several times, most notably helping Team Canada defeat the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, the duchy passed on to Prince William when Charles became king on the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
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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
Noun
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In 2023, the commonwealth was one of two states with a split legislature, meaning Republicans held the state Senate and Democrats the House.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
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Every year, thousands of athletes around the commonwealth lace up their cleats, all with dreams of playing at Gillette in December.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Locals will tell you September is the best month to visit the Riviera, and one of the principality’s top chefs, Marcel Ravin, is closing out the summer season in style with a dinner at Elsa at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended The Monte-Carlo Beach.—
Lane Nieset,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has said Swiss firms cannot pass off goods as Liechtensteiner by routing them through the principality because they would still be recognized as Swiss in origin.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-state. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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