city-state

noun

Definition of city-statenext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of city-state Athens was a belligerent city-state that fell victim to its own aggressions. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 The ultra-wealthy city-state of Monaco on the French Riviera is no stranger to luxury hotels—fellow grand dames Hôtel de Paris and Hermitage sit at the heart of the action around Casino Square—each vying to outdo the other with fancy arrivals and impeccably discreet service. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026 As conditions worsened, city-states fought over power and resources. — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 As children, Vi and Jinx lose their parents in an abortive revolution in Zaun, and years later find themselves on opposite sides of an unfolding power struggle between the two city-states. — David Faris, TheWeek, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for city-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-state
  1. republic
  2. kingdom
  3. nation
  4. empire
  5. country
  6. duchy
  7. commonwealth
  8. principality
Noun
  • From a young age, our children receive conflicting signals about the meaning of participating in our democratic republic.
    — David Neil, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Bessent described a two-pronged approach featuring financial pressure and a physical blockade of Islamic republic's ports.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of republic
Noun
  • The kingdom has faced increasing attacks from the Houthis, who also declared a blockade on the al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea on July 20.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Belle and the Beast will have to not only find their way back to their own love, but also help the princess find hers in order to lift the curse from the kingdom and return home.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • The United States, once the top provider of assistance to Afghanistan, no longer even ranks in the top five of donor nations.
    — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Liechtenstein, a wealthy nation of 40,000 people that borders Switzerland and Austria, has an unusually powerful monarchy by European standards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • Bridgerton and The Gilded Age sparked measurable spikes in searches for corsets, empire-waist dresses, and opera gloves.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Thanks to Reagan’s pro-oligarch leanings, his administration drove down inheritance tax requirements, pushing rates down to nearly 50 percent—leaving the heirs of oligarchs with more than enough to quickly rebuild their families’ financial empires.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of empire
Noun
  • Addressing thousands of officials and delegates at the Great Hall of the People, Xi portrayed China as a country that was facing tough times, but one that would emerge unscathed.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • However, no other peer country separates the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine as the president has now ordered.
    — Amanda Seitz, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • Louise Haigh will take on the role of Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, First Secretary of State and Cabinet Office Minister.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 July 2026
  • The duchy is overseen by a board of directors and major decisions must be approved by the Treasury.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Definition of duchy
Noun
  • The commonwealth also accuses TikTok of intentionally designing a platform to be addictive to young people with an infinite scroll that in turn helps the company's bottom line but at the cost of children's mental well-being and development.
    — Lauren Linder, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Nine students, represented by their guardians, along with four nonprofit groups, have sued Massachusetts, saying the commonwealth had denied schoolchildren the right to an adequate education and to equal protection under the law.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • The principality is traditionally conservative and in 1984 became the last European country to grant women the right to vote in national elections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • And for her, the gala is much more than just a social event in the principality.
    — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 19 July 2026
Definition of principality

Browse Nearby Words

city slickers
city-state
city-states
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Cite this Entry

“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-state. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on city-state

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about city-state

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