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
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Recent Examples of nation-states
In the world of Berle and Means, firms operated mostly within the boundaries of nation-states.
—
Mary Johnstone-Louis,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
During that conflict, their ancestral homes were nation-states.
—
Ibrahim Al-Marashi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
In the West, nation-states produced an astonishing expansion of equality, democracy and material security.
—
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
The tradition endures even as most people quietly agree that art probably shouldn’t be co-opted by the agendas of nation-states.
—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Particularly in authoritarian or nondemocratic nation-states, journalists can be jailed or harassed for doing their job of reporting on abuses of power.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
That act, of amending Jefferson’s original draft, edit upon edit, has been the story not only of new nation-states declaring their independence but also of people within nation-states.
—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
The modern Zionist political movement began in the late 19th century and gave political expression to our connection to the land of Israel in a modern world shaped by nation-states.
—
Elad Strohmayer,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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
Mary Johnstone-Louis,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
During that conflict, their ancestral homes were nation-states.
—
Ibrahim Al-Marashi,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
In the West, nation-states produced an astonishing expansion of equality, democracy and material security.
—
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
The tradition endures even as most people quietly agree that art probably shouldn’t be co-opted by the agendas of nation-states.
—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Particularly in authoritarian or nondemocratic nation-states, journalists can be jailed or harassed for doing their job of reporting on abuses of power.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
7 May 2026
That act, of amending Jefferson’s original draft, edit upon edit, has been the story not only of new nation-states declaring their independence but also of people within nation-states.
—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
The modern Zionist political movement began in the late 19th century and gave political expression to our connection to the land of Israel in a modern world shaped by nation-states.
—
Elad Strohmayer,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-states
Noun
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The tight market, combined with tin's scarcity and supply concentration in high-risk nations such as China and Indonesia, has elevated its status as a critical metal.
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The group stage of this expanded 48-team tournament had threatened to lack a little jeopardy, because eight nations across 12 groups have the safety net of a third-place finish.
Noun
-
The trees become roads, hiding places, libraries, kingdoms.
-
At first glance, this theory may seem most applicable to tribes, kingdoms, or nations.
Noun
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Even the Gulf monarchies who’ve made their fortunes on oil and gas exports have come around to the idea that this is not a sustainable strategy, yet Trump won’t hear it.
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For decades, the region’s monarchies shared common challenges.
Noun
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The Europeans will either become vassals of those empires or learn to stand on their own.
-
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi built commercial empires by transcending the game.
Cite this Entry
“Nation-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-states. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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