1
as in monarchism
a system of government in which there is only one ruler whose power is unlimited
Under a monarchy, the position of ruler is often passed down from parent to child.
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2
as in democracy
a group of people who live in a territory ruled by a single person
The country was formerly a monarchy, but has now transitioned to a republic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of monarchy
In 1979 the country witnessed an Islamic revolution that overthrew the Shah of Iran and replaced the monarchy with a theocratic government.
—
Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
However, his father’s repressive and imperial legacy, combined with his own royal pedigree and American and Israeli proximity, prevent him from finding favor with Iranians who oppose monarchy and prioritize sovereignty.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
In Tatoi, the atmosphere that cold February day reflected the political tension of a Greece still digesting the end of its monarchy—in fact, Queen Sofia was required to secure special permission from the Greek government for the burial, which only allowed the family six hours for the services.
—Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 18 Jan. 2026
Iran’s 1979 revolution overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy and established the Islamic Republic, which has since been widely criticised around the world.
—Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for monarchy
Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
However, his father’s repressive and imperial legacy, combined with his own royal pedigree and American and Israeli proximity, prevent him from finding favor with Iranians who oppose monarchy and prioritize sovereignty.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
In Tatoi, the atmosphere that cold February day reflected the political tension of a Greece still digesting the end of its monarchy—in fact, Queen Sofia was required to secure special permission from the Greek government for the burial, which only allowed the family six hours for the services.
—Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 18 Jan. 2026
Iran’s 1979 revolution overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy and established the Islamic Republic, which has since been widely criticised around the world.
—Shooka Bidarian, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for monarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monarchy
Noun
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But for anyone outside the British elite, the constitutional monarchism that emerged after the civil wars did not look much like democracy or true liberty.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harper's Magazine,
20 Aug. 2024
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And the Decemberists tried to overthrow the Tsar and insist on having some of the more basic aspects of representative constitutional monarchism introduced into Russia.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2022
Noun
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Threat to democracy Bishop Anthony Taylor's recent Facebook post and its coverage in Wednesday's Arkansas Gazette-Democrat greatly impressed me.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Every day augurs some new threat—to democracy, to decency.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The health of our republic depends on refusing that premise now, before the vocabulary of authoritarianism becomes the common tongue of American politics, and before more names are added to the list.—
Andrew Weinstein,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
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Hamiltonians supported the construction of the Erie and Chesapeake & Ohio Canals in the early years of the republic, then shifted to railroads, and ultimately to interstate highways and airports.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is not a dictatorship in the classic sense.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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Mendonça was born in 1968, in the early years of a ruthless military dictatorship—a time when cinema, like much else, was harshly constrained.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Calvin’s commentary emphasized clemency not only as a rational posture for a sovereign to adopt, but as a heroic virtue that is the essence of our common humanity.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Harry is due to attend the court proceedings, but this trip will not include a meeting with his father, King Charles III, as the sovereign will be in Scotland at the time.—
Séraphine Roger,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The move from the US payments giant comes two years after the kingdom brought in a rule that any company wanting to bid for government contracts would have to set up their regional headquarters in the kingdom.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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That was the keys to the kingdom.—
DeAsia Paige,
AJC.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Will skies be clear in the commonwealth for the February 2026 full moon?—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
28 Jan. 2026
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The commonwealth argued these details support a narrative that the scene was staged to mislead investigators.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Once the Olympics get underway, events will run through February 22, with the Closing Ceremony concluding the Milano Cortina Games and handing off the torch to France, host nation of the French Alps 2030 Winter Olympics.—
Michelle Bruton,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchy. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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