as in nations
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
Related Words
Relevance
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 nation-states
While these capabilities are intended to help companies detect and fix flaws, they could also be weaponized by hackers, including nation-states, to find and exploit vulnerabilities.
—
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
These brave souls forged new frontiers for nation-states and planted the right flag for posterity.
—S.c. Stuart, PC Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, and other post-war multilateral institutions are struggling for relevance as nation-states increasingly abandon the pursuit of the common good.
—Time, 26 Feb. 2026
If the most fervent believers are correct, AI might one day challenge the power and sovereignty of nation-states.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
With vehicles from nation-states like Russia and China, as well as private companies like Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Arianespace and others, launch costs are no longer prohibitive.
—Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
Srinivasan has also published a book arguing that such privatized, business-friendly enclaves will eventually surpass nation-states.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
Organizations unintentionally create systemic weaknesses that adversaries, ranging from nation-states to hackers, are keen to exploit when privacy is neglected.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
These brave souls forged new frontiers for nation-states and planted the right flag for posterity.
—S.c. Stuart, PC Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, and other post-war multilateral institutions are struggling for relevance as nation-states increasingly abandon the pursuit of the common good.
—Time, 26 Feb. 2026
If the most fervent believers are correct, AI might one day challenge the power and sovereignty of nation-states.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
With vehicles from nation-states like Russia and China, as well as private companies like Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Arianespace and others, launch costs are no longer prohibitive.
—Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
Srinivasan has also published a book arguing that such privatized, business-friendly enclaves will eventually surpass nation-states.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
Organizations unintentionally create systemic weaknesses that adversaries, ranging from nation-states to hackers, are keen to exploit when privacy is neglected.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-states
Noun
-
China and India gained early access to Russian crude and maintain strategic reserves, while the opportunity for other nations to buy is rapidly shrinking.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Ten nations, including K-pop giant South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia and Laos are set to compete in the inaugural competition, with more participants to be announced in the coming months, according to the contest’s website.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland The rugged coastline of County Clare served as a dramatic setting in Harry Potter, and the wider Wild Atlantic Way has doubled as everything from fantasy kingdoms to period dramas.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Mar. 2026
-
That’s County Clare’s rugged coastline, and the wider Wild Atlantic Way has doubled as everything from fantasy kingdoms to period dramas.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are still a significant number of countries and smaller political units that retain monarchies, however.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The deportations have been the subject of two legal challenges in Eswatini, which is ruled by a king and is one of the last absolute monarchies in the world.—
Gerald Imray,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That will not be achieved with our current focus on military strength and power as well as economic domination — only an uneasy peace, until toppled by resistance and rebellion, as all the great empires have been in the past.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Indonesia’s richest man, Michael Bambang Hartono, who helped turn the Djarum cigarette company into one of the country’s largest business empires and later became a controlling shareholder of Bank Central Asia, Indonesia’s biggest private lender, died Thursday.—
Niniek Karmini,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nation-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-states. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
