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
But Netanyahu’s rhetoric, if impolitic, was resonant: the image of Israel as a militarized city-state will be hard to dispel.
—
Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Consequently, Persia abandoned its westward expansion, while various Greek city-states formed a tenuous alliance that lasted nearly 50 years.
—Debbie Felton, The Conversation, 8 Aug. 2025
When Singapore gained independence in 1965 after its separation from Malaysia, few expected the small city-state — which turns 60 on Saturday — to survive.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 8 Aug. 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
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
Consequently, Persia abandoned its westward expansion, while various Greek city-states formed a tenuous alliance that lasted nearly 50 years.
—Debbie Felton, The Conversation, 8 Aug. 2025
When Singapore gained independence in 1965 after its separation from Malaysia, few expected the small city-state — which turns 60 on Saturday — to survive.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 8 Aug. 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
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-state
Noun
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By September, the Soviets had lost not only all the territorial gains of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Germany, including the Baltic states, Moldavia, and western parts of Ukraine and Belarus, but also the capitals of those two republics, first Minsk and then Kyiv.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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For a night out, pair it with Dôen’s romantic paisley dress, cinch the waist with Banana republic’s knotted belt, then finish with Alaïa’s Le Click bag.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ansari had performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, a move that drew scrutiny due to the kingdom's record on human rights and the proximity of the festival to the anniversary of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Tasked with building a fashion ecosystem at the lightning speed that defines the rapidly liberalizing kingdom, Cakmak initiated Riyadh Fashion Week in 2023, then shining the spotlight on about 30 local talents.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Some people want, in the case of the Republic of New Africa, an independent Black nation cut out of the United States.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Kremlin has drawn red lines on the future architecture of Ukrainian security, rejecting plans by Kyiv’s allies to deploy peacekeeping troops from NATO nations when the war is over.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Owing in large part to Sabine, the British government financed the construction of magnetic observatories around the empire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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After more than two decades of working in the food space—reviving her family’s snack empire, and building her own chip brand from scratch—Dawes was ready to move on from starch.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Given the Frenchman’s frightening form — already up to 18 goals for club and country this season — expect to see Mbappe looking to test the millimetric precision of the Barcelona high line once again.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Regional countries have begun to act against the crime flourishing inside Cambodia’s borders that has ensnared their citizens.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 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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The commonwealth does have a Republican governor after Glenn Youngkin, who is term-limited, won in 2021.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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According to data from the Kentucky Cabinet of Health and Family Services, more than 562,000 people across nearly 271,000 households in the commonwealth received SNAP benefits in June 2025.—
Keisha Rowe,
Louisville Courier Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Owned in majority by the government of the principality, the SBM counts LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton among its minority shareholders.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
9 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-state. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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