martial law

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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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 martial law Lee’s next test in safeguarding those interests promises to be trickier: restoring stability to South Korea following the tumultuous ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose impeachment was confirmed in April following his December 2024 declaration of martial law. Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025 The election caps a particularly turbulent several months in the country’s politics that began with right-wing President Yoon Suk Yeol declaration of martial law last December. Jong Eun Lee, The Conversation, 29 May 2025 Yoon separately faces a criminal trial for rebellion in connection with his martial law decree. Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025 However, it was suspended by the succeeding administration, led by President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office last month for his declaration of martial law. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for martial law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial law
Noun
  • Newsom said in a court filing on Thursday that troops had moved beyond those allowable duties to actively assist ICE agents in making arrests, in violation of a federal law known as the Posse Comitatus Act, which is designed to prevent the military from being used as a domestic police force.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025
  • Oyun-Erdene’s supporters say his ouster had three drivers: Firstly, and with a dash of irony, his relentless pursuit of official graft, including a draft law his cabinet just submitted that would compel all public officials to justify their income.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • The common law right of publicity prevents individuals from evoking another’s identity for their own advantage, commercial or otherwise, Ochoa said.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2025
  • Before the United States’ founding, English common law had established habeas corpus to object to imprisonment.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • The group, known as the L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress, is hoping to persuade voters to repeal the ordinance.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
  • That change was made by the Boise City Council in 2021, closing the loophole in the ordinance.
    Ashley Fredde, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • This sweeping legislation, combined with Trump’s recent executive order reversing key Biden-era cybersecurity initiatives, signals a tectonic shift in how the federal government approaches digital infrastructure, AI governance and national cyber defense.
    Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • This legislation helps ensure Black communities are not left behind as transit technology moves forward.
    Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • Jean Duhon Hanson Dundee ICE agents must take responsibility for their actions Our country is capitulating to an ideology that says the police state is more important than any freedom guaranteed in our constitution.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 June 2025
  • Already in existence before the Constitution arrived, state governments often did in their constitutions.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial%20law. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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