monarchy

noun

Definition of monarchynext
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

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 monarchy Hilary Beckles, head of the Caribbean Reparations Commission, said at a recent press conference that the region has never been better prepared to confront Britain and the monarchy about its links to slavery. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 These republican movements in the Caribbean are about more than opposition to Britain or the monarchy. — Brooke N. Newman, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026 Employees allege the company is run like a monarchy, with those at the top ruling with impunity. — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026 In recent years, the British monarchy has adopted a more conciliatory tone when addressing the horrors of slavery. — Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monarchy
  1. monarchism
  2. democracy
  3. republic
  4. dictatorship
  5. sovereign
  6. kingdom
  7. commonwealth
  8. nation
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of monarchism
Noun
  • The swelling majorities, with some races still too early to call, underlined a deep sense of voter anger and concern over the economy and the state of democracy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Hong Kong — Joshua Wong, once a teenage figurehead of Hong Kong’s democracy movement, faces the prospect of entering middle age in prison, after a court Thursday meted out a 10-year sentence over a second national security conviction.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of democracy
Noun
  • On November 9 Germany became a republic, and Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Occasionally eyebrows have been raised and tongues have clucked, as when Nancy Reagan splashed out on new china, but a simple and sober aesthetic has been maintained, as befits a democratic republic.
    — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of republic
Noun
  • The first project is about the disappearance of petty criminal El Nani (aka Santiago Correla) in 1980s Spain during the country’s transition out of dictatorship and into democracy.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Nixon had called Cuba a dictatorship prior to the interview, and has repeated that position since.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of dictatorship
Noun
  • Unlike the British throne, in fact, the leadership of the Commonwealth is not automatically passed from a sovereign to their heir.
    — Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The Crown Estate is an independent company established by Parliament to manage a vast portfolio of properties throughout the United Kingdom that is nominally owned by the sovereign during his lifetime but is operated for the benefit of taxpayers.
    — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sovereign
Noun
  • Since then, Saudi Arabia has regularly bombed Houthi positions, while the group has expanded its attacks against the oil-rich kingdom.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline proved to be a crucial lifeline, both for energy markets and the kingdom’s financial health, as did Abu Dhabi’s pipeline to Fujairah.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • Scroll down to see General Assembly results from across the commonwealth.
    — Laura Fay, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Tappahannock is in the eastern part of Virginia's 1st Congressional District, where the race between long-time Republican incumbent Rob Wittman and Democrat Shannon Taylor, the commonwealth's attorney for Henrico County, has been tight.
    — Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • Like other Mediterranean nations, Turkey faces mounting risks from heat waves, drought, water scarcity, wildfires and flooding.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • No man has scored more or made more appearances for his nation.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of nation

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monarchs
monarchy
monasteries
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Cite this Entry

“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchy. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on monarchy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monarchy

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