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
This is not a call for martial law or a long-term military presence.
—
Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Lee took office in June, replacing Yoon Suk Yeol, after Yoon’s removal from office for declaring martial law last December.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
In July, special prosecutors investigating Yoon's declaration of martial law served a search warrant on the Korean part of a military base jointly operated with the United States.
—Steve Holland, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
This is mission creep in action—by breaking the police state’s hostile takeover of the country and our Constitution into a series off incremental moves, the administration sidesteps the broad public backlash that a single, sweeping declaration of martial law would provoke.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Lee took office in June, replacing Yoon Suk Yeol, after Yoon’s removal from office for declaring martial law last December.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
In July, special prosecutors investigating Yoon's declaration of martial law served a search warrant on the Korean part of a military base jointly operated with the United States.
—Steve Holland, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
This is mission creep in action—by breaking the police state’s hostile takeover of the country and our Constitution into a series off incremental moves, the administration sidesteps the broad public backlash that a single, sweeping declaration of martial law would provoke.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial law
Noun
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Raise the stakes for farmers There have been calls not just to hold farmers more accountable for H-2A violations, but also to reward the ones who comply with labor laws.—
Max Blau,
ProPublica,
16 Sep. 2025
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As lieutenant governor, Duncan backed policies expanding healthcare in rural communities and helped pass the state’s first hate crimes law.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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City officials say the litigation would consider Minnesota statutes on public health nuisance, traditional nuisance, and common law nuisance.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Sep. 2025
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Legal experts have criticized the legality and reality of Operation Restoring Justice, with former Attorney General Dominic Grieve telling The Independent that the courts would likely block the plan under British common law.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
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While Charlestown doesn’t have an official International Dark Sky designation, local lighting ordinances and regulations help keep light pollution low, making the night sky here among the clearest on the East Coast.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
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The shooting led to Mayor Quinton Lucas calling for stricter parking lot security, days after a new ordinance was referred to the City Council’s Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But a group of famed chefs, some of whom boast their own line of cookware, is hoping to block the new legislation.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
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In recent days, 15 House Republicans in competitive political districts introduced legislation to extend the tax credits for one year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is part of our constitution.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
10 Sep. 2025
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The 74-year-old had called the vote under article 49 of the French constitution to pressure lawmakers to back his proposal to slash €44 billion ($52 billion) from the 2026 budget in a bid to reduce the country’s fiscal deficit.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial%20law. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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