as in nation
a form of political organization in which a group of people who share the same history, traditions, or language live in a particular area under one government
the rise of European nation-states in the thirteenth century
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nation-state
That overlap confirmed DarkSpectre was operating at a nation-state scale.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
What the alternative would have been to allow a drug trafficker to continue to use national territory and elements of nation-state power to further drug trafficking organizations.
—NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Now nation-states were claiming it for themselves, through the machines and people fueling their economies.
—Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025
Its central contention is that the world is a better place when it’s composed of distinct nation-states, each with its own individual culture and history; such societies are more stable, and achieve more, and make unique contributions to humanity as a whole.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nation-state
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
What the alternative would have been to allow a drug trafficker to continue to use national territory and elements of nation-state power to further drug trafficking organizations.
—NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Now nation-states were claiming it for themselves, through the machines and people fueling their economies.
—Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2025
Its central contention is that the world is a better place when it’s composed of distinct nation-states, each with its own individual culture and history; such societies are more stable, and achieve more, and make unique contributions to humanity as a whole.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nation-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-state
Noun
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And measles isn't eliminated in this nation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Once a child in the stands cheering on his countrymen in Brno, Dostál is now one of his nation’s top goalies, and leads a resurgence of Czech netminders across the NHL.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday a major investment package in Syria spanning energy, aviation, real estate and telecommunications, as the kingdom positions itself as a leading backer of Syria’s new leadership.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
8 Feb. 2026
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Since then, Mukaab, a massive cuboid building, has been cancelled elsewhere in the kingdom due to cost concerns.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But empires fall, and dynasties crumble.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Situated at the crossroads of empires — from Persian and Roman to Byzantine, Arab and Ottoman — it has long been shaped by conquest and survival.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In 2024, under Malaysia’s unique rotating monarchy, the current Sultan of Johor, Ibrahim Ibni Iskandar, was crowned the nation’s king for five years, shining a brighter spotlight on his state.—
Jeff Chu,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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One person who worked on the project said the UAE hopes the chatbot will project a political line consistent with the monarchy’s.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nation-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-state. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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