nation-states

noun

plural of nation-state
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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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 Europe could revert to a collection of nation-states ruled by illiberal nationalist governments content to accommodate Civilizational America. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Terrorists, criminal organizations, hostile nation-states, and sophisticated cybercriminals can now move money across borders with unprecedented speed using cryptocurrency. — Mitchell Silber, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-states
  1. nations
  2. kingdoms
  3. monarchies
  4. empires
Noun
  • Michael Damianos said the East Mediterranean is fast becoming an alternative energy source for European nations as Russia’s war in Ukraine and upheaval in the Middle East compel the continent to seek out new sources.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • These have been found to typically be most prevalent among African and South Asian nations.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of nations
Noun
  • Gwayne wants Daeron to be made King of the Reach and various other kingdoms loyal to the Greens, while Rhaenyra can claim the rest.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For a long time, our leading hypothesis was bullying and violence, but that may be a bit impractical, given their kingdoms are vast networks of tunnels that can stretch for up to three kilometers.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
Definition of kingdoms
Noun
  • The Belgian and Dutch monarchies seem to share a warm bond as well as a border, and Queen Mathilde and Queen Máxima are known to be friends.
    — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • 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.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026
Definition of monarchies
Noun
  • This stands in stark contrast to a time when many wellness brands are rushing to become lifestyle empires almost overnight.
    — Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Through remarkable archival footage and an incredible range of interviews, Monsters of God digs into the egotistical and ruthless mentalities that supported competing criminal empires and the undercover operations that dismantled them.
    — Rory Doherty, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of empires

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nation-state
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Cite this Entry

“Nation-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-states. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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