as in dominion
controlling power or influence over others
a nation whose economic imperium waned after the war
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Recent Examples of imperium
Nintendo has built a reputation on its willingness to catch fans off-guard, and a shutterbug adventure was the last thing anyone expected at the zenith of Pokemon’s imperium.
—
Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
But our failure to anticipate this most recent spark of dissent is perhaps more understandable; after all, as Xi’s one-party Leninist imperium has gathered momentum, most foreign journalists have been expelled from China.
—Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2022
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Playing that particular Neil Young tune to represent the American imperium was an insidious selection.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2024
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But unlike the familiar realm of the Caesars, this imperium doesn’t govern only humans: Talking beasts also live as citizens in the empire.
—Liz Braswell, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2023
Many people in what was formerly East Germany, part of the Soviet imperium until shortly before German unification in 1990, look favorably on Moscow.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Firstly, the struggle of Czech writers (within a German-speaking imperium) to transform their little vernacular into a language of literary distinction.
—Jared Marcel Pollen, The New Republic, 12 July 2023
Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
But our failure to anticipate this most recent spark of dissent is perhaps more understandable; after all, as Xi’s one-party Leninist imperium has gathered momentum, most foreign journalists have been expelled from China.
—Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2022
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Playing that particular Neil Young tune to represent the American imperium was an insidious selection.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2024
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But unlike the familiar realm of the Caesars, this imperium doesn’t govern only humans: Talking beasts also live as citizens in the empire.
—Liz Braswell, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2023
Many people in what was formerly East Germany, part of the Soviet imperium until shortly before German unification in 1990, look favorably on Moscow.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Firstly, the struggle of Czech writers (within a German-speaking imperium) to transform their little vernacular into a language of literary distinction.
—Jared Marcel Pollen, The New Republic, 12 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperium
Noun
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These were inhabitants of the Real East Coast who, even in the late 2000s, were still under the impression that hip-hop’s having been created in their territory granted them indefinite dominion over how the genre’s rhythm and presentation were supposed to feel.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
23 June 2025
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The idea of achieving ‘dominion’ over the world and society is not uncommon in charismatic Christian theology, according to religious scholar Matthew Taylor, who studies Christian Nationalism.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
The brand does not aim for mass-luxury global domination.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
29 June 2025
-
Here’s a look at the ten brands that rolled their way to the top in 2024, each with a different formula for domination.—
Javier Hasse,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Dominating Grocery Walmart’s dominance is most pronounced in grocery.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
This launched an era of dominance with a string of classic main events.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
Noun
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In his latest book, Is a River Alive?, Macfarlane travels to three very different rivers (in Ecuador, India and Quebec) to examine the question of a river’s sovereignty.—
Brianne Kane,
Scientific American,
1 July 2025
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The United States is declining into authoritarianism and threatening Canada’s sovereignty.—
Stephen Marche,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2025
Noun
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The lights go up in Sin City on Sunday night as defending champion Mexico faces Costa Rica with Group A supremacy and a smoother road to the final on the line.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
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One of them, Illinois coach Bret Bielema believes, is an end to the notion of the Southeastern Conference’s supremacy.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperium.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperium. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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