emperor 1 of 2

noun (1)

Definition of emperornext
as in king
a man who rules an empire Roman emperors

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emperors

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural of emperor
as in kings
a man who rules an empire Roman emperors

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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 emperor
Noun
Helena, the mother of the Byzantine emperor Constantine, aided this process by commissioning shrines such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Christians still memorialize important events in Jesus’ life and ministry. — Shay Rabineau, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 Samuel, or Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014. — Costas Kantouris, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
The wreck also contained gold coins issued by four emperors of the Heraclian dynasty, which ruled the Byzantine Empire during the seventh and eighth centuries. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Maybe it’s supposed to end this way — as admirers who became combatants, who bonded as only emperors can, then became close. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emperor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emperor
  1. king
  2. lord
  3. sovereign
  4. potentate
Noun
  • Crowning yourself king of the hyper-SUV world requires more than just a legendary badge.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The coast could be particularly hammered if the exceptionally high king tides coincide with strong winter storms.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of king
Noun
  • In early English law, the silva forestis was a place for lords to chase game and for ordinary people to gather wood.
    — James Whorton Jr, Longreads, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Colombian police have arrested the wife and daughter of one of Ecuador's most powerful drug lords who was extradited to the United States last year, President Abelardo de la Espriella said Sunday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of lord
Noun
  • The Crown Estate is an independent company established by Parliament to manage a vast portfolio of properties throughout the United Kingdom that is nominally owned by the sovereign during his lifetime but is operated for the benefit of taxpayers.
    — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Only three African sovereigns hold investment grade ratings, according to a background note from the AU’s African Peer Review Mechanism (ARPM).
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sovereign
Noun
  • The main drama involves a rural teen-age tee girl who recognizes the resort’s president as the potentate who evicted her family from their land.
    — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
  • With 775 rooms, the palace also provides office space for the royal bureaucracy and hosts lavish state dinners for visiting presidents and potentates.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Definition of potentate

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Cite this Entry

“Emperor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emperor. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on emperor

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about emperor

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