as in law
control of an area by military forces rather than by the police
The government has declared martial law throughout the city to stop the riots. an area placed under martial law
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Recent Examples of martial law
Zelensky’s presidential term officially expired in 2024, but under Ukraine’s constitution elections are not held during martial law, which was declared when Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in February 2022.
—
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Ukraine is under martial law, which prevents holding elections.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2025
Elections in Ukraine are suspended under martial law, which Zelensky imposed in February 2022 after Russia invaded the country.
—Connor Greene, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
But the parliament successfully voted down the martial law declaration, forcing Yoon to lift it after only six hours.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Ukraine is under martial law, which prevents holding elections.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2025
Elections in Ukraine are suspended under martial law, which Zelensky imposed in February 2022 after Russia invaded the country.
—Connor Greene, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
But the parliament successfully voted down the martial law declaration, forcing Yoon to lift it after only six hours.
—NPR, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial law
Noun
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The township is arguing that state law regarding government employee protections against lawsuits conflicts with federal court rulings.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
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Scott Venable, lead pastor of Northwood Church in Keller, said the city has never been at risk of being governed by sharia or any other foreign laws.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The lawsuit claims suppression of speech, retaliation, unreasonable seizure, unreasonably prolonged seizure, excessive force, false imprisonment and common law battery.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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Officers James Sribniak and Jack Currie are facing assault and common law offenses.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Olathe has confirmed that the City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on an ordinance that would pledge all local incremental general sales tax within the STAR bond project area to pay off stadium debt.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
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No ordinance, however, directs officers on how to respond when an administrative warrant appears in the NCIC system.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The most immediate and achievable step is to support legislation that gives youth the right to choose how they’re represented in adoption recruitment, protecting their privacy, dignity and safety.—
Dana Perino,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Perhaps the most daunting is that legislation passed after the 2008 financial crisis explicitly limits most regulated mortgages to a term of 30 years at the maximum.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The association has argued that Measure ULA violates both the state’s constitution and the Los Angeles City Charter.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
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In 2020, voters repealed the Gallagher Amendment in the state constitution, which locked in a certain ratio of residential to commercial property taxes that provided extra security for homeowners against sudden increases.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial%20law. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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