as in republics
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-states
With crops failing and fears of starvation rising, some wealthy Italian city-states like Florence and Venice imported grain from elsewhere in the world.
—
Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
An ensuing grain shortage threatened to spark a famine or civil unrest, so Italian city-states, such as Venice and Genoa, resorted to emergency imports from the Black Sea region, which helped keep the population fed.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 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
Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
An ensuing grain shortage threatened to spark a famine or civil unrest, so Italian city-states, such as Venice and Genoa, resorted to emergency imports from the Black Sea region, which helped keep the population fed.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-states
Noun
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From enchanted kingdoms to the streets of today, members of the Art Directors Guild craft the environments that bring film, television, and theater to life.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
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Each gift contained a prophecy about the identity and destiny of the newborn, while the names and kingdoms of origin of Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, documented in ancient texts such as the Liber Pontificalis, reinforce the universality of the tribute.—
Nadia Cantú,
AZCentral.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Its concept has drawn scorn from European partner nations and recent objection from some GOP members in Congress.—
Kevin Fixler
January 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
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Long-term projections suggest demographic tipping points in major cities and even nations, altering cultural landscapes and potentially alliance dynamics.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Irrational hubris has been the downfall of many empires.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Jan. 2026
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At the time, many Latin American countries had just gained independence from European empires.—
Meg Kinnard,
Fortune,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In Europe, where Panattoni has operated for around 20 years, the platform spans 15 countries through 36 offices and has been the region's largest developer for eight consecutive years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Decent countries should sanction us economically, and our leaders should be charged as war criminals and have their assets frozen.—
Elie Mystal,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“City-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-states. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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