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
  • After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Beregovsky and other academics from the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences were evacuated to the eastern republic of Bashkir.
    — Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
  • The war left the new republic with extensive debts shared unevenly between the states.
    — Donovan Fifield, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Definition of republic
Noun
  • Corey Hawkins as Polybus Polybus is another one of Penelope’s many suitors who scheme to take her hand and kingdoms for themselves.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Iran launched attacks on Saudi Arabia for the first time in about three months, according to two people familiar with the matter, triggering early warning alarms in Al-Kharj, east of the capital Riyadh, and at Yanbu on the kingdom's Red Sea coast.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies, alongside international law enforcement partners and host nation authorities, are all contributing to the security architecture for this tournament.
    — Adam Leventhal, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Iran attacked a power generation and water desalination plant in Kuwait, the Gulf nation said on Saturday.
    — Monica Haider, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • Another gripe for many is the American accents uniformly applied to these characters from Greek mythology when everyone knows that all the glorious empires of Hollywood speak exclusively in British accents.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Renoir painted the Cahen d’Anvers sisters, including their elder sister, Irène, when France was coming out of a national crisis, turning itself from empire to re-public; deciding what and how to be.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of empire
Noun
  • The tapestry of nationalities that make up this country were able to support their teams in the greatest sporting event on Earth.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • After 104 games across three countries over five and a half weeks, the 23rd edition of the men’s World Cup was down to its closing stages.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 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
  • Her campaign has centered on supporting farmers, expanding Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry, and portraying Shapiro as a career politician more focused on a future White House bid than on leading the commonwealth.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • Virginia’s overall power grid is strained, due in part to the commonwealth’s embrace of data centers.
    — Scott Cohn, CNBC, 9 July 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • The June 30 attack deeply shook the discreet and ultra-wealthy principality on the Mediterranean coast.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • Peter once ruled the small principality, and the saints’ relics rest there.
    — Diana Dukhanova, The Conversation, 6 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 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on city-state

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about city-state

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