countries

noun

plural of country
1
as in homes
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship a great love for my country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in states
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government usually in time of war, the whole country unites behind the president

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 countries Howard Kakita has traveled to 70 countries in his 88 years, but his first international trip came back in 1940, when he was sent to Japan at just 2 years old. — Rina Nakano, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 Gun ownership in Thailand is relatively high compared with other countries in Southeast Asia. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 Of the ten, there’s six world premieres across ten countries of production. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 This warning comes as countries spend more on underwater surveillance and protecting infrastructure due to rising geopolitical competition. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, Paramount has touted other regulatory clearances from the European Union, as well as countries like China, Canada and Australia. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Based in Geneva, the international financing group provides grants to countries for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria relief. — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026 His works, including The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Pillowman and Hangmen have been staged in the West End and on Broadway and performed in more than 40 countries in over 30 languages. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countries
  1. homes
  2. states
  3. homelands
  4. nations
Noun
  • Elsewhere in Greece, flames threatened homes on Kefalonia, forcing evacuations from inland communities as aircraft made water drops over the Ionian island.
    — Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Ensure your spot is at least 25 to 30 feet away from structures such as homes, sheds, greenhouses, and patios, as this tree grows quite large, reaching 30 to 40 feet tall and wide.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of homes
Noun
  • The development is a blow to the states’ lawsuit, which was filed on July 13.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Andrew’s research now largely focuses on how brain function is associated with various mental states—in particular, religious and mystical experiences.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of states
Noun
  • The lessons of the civil rights movement, the language and songs of homelands, our stories, music and cuisines, have so much power.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But this is another story entirely, full of its own complications of immigration and homelands and politics, a story of a difficult and fractured relationship with a parent, a story of a debilitating disease.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of homelands
Noun
  • Another significant portion of those 13 million barrels were replaced with emergency stockpiles that Western nations, led by the United States, have been releasing for months.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Together, these countries account for the vast majority of global nuclear production, reflecting the capital requirements and long development timelines that limit nuclear power to a relatively small group of nations.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of nations

Browse Nearby Words

count (out)
countries
countrified
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Cite this Entry

“Countries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countries. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on countries

Nglish: Translation of countries for Spanish Speakers

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