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
Everyone in the imperium knows the emperor is a nincompoop—and yet no one wants to go out on a limb to criticize him.
—
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
The Islamic Republic of Iran is motivated by a desire to bring about the end times and usher in an everlasting Islamic imperium.
—Mike Coté, National Review, 20 July 2025
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
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
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
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
The Islamic Republic of Iran is motivated by a desire to bring about the end times and usher in an everlasting Islamic imperium.
—Mike Coté, National Review, 20 July 2025
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperium
Noun
-
For China, bringing Taiwan under its dominion would break through that barrier and expand its military reach.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The National Capital Planning Commission has dominion over all White House construction and will vote on the plans today.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But Jordan’s place on this list is about pure domination.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
With the blessing and leadership of various popes, the nobles of Europe raised armies, crossed various countries or sailed to the Middle East to fight and save the Holy Land (Palestine) from Muslim domination, something that echoes down the centuries to today.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That's why Utah, a state that prides itself on sovereignty and small-government, is seeking federal help to revive a landmark that is culturally, environmentally and economically vital to the region.—
Saige Miller,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Chinese version of Apple Maps doesn’t recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan, and the Chinese version of iOS excludes Taiwan’s flag from the emoji keyboard.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But Bruce achieved his alpha status on his own through dominance, not via a useful alliance.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
-
To date, Russia’s VKS has failed to achieve air superiority or dominance over most of Ukraine.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Legal experts say those protections are significant but not absolute and that the supremacy clause does not provide blanket immunity.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The supremacy of filmmaking craft on display here is what makes Janus’ restoration so worthy of celebration.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imperium.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperium. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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