as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorate
Within 35 years, virtually the entire continent, only a few patches excepted, was made up of European colonies or protectorates.
—
Adam Hochschild, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
In 1815, Monaco became a Sardinian protectorate before receiving independence once again in 1861.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 Mar. 2025
Elon Musk's assault on the federal government has supercharged Tesla's evolution from liberal status symbol to pride-of-MAGA protectorate.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
De jure and de facto European protectorates, such as China, Egypt, Tunisia, and the Ottoman Empire, belonged to the gray zone of states that were nominally independent but in reality were under the thumb of European powers.
—Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Adam Hochschild, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
In 1815, Monaco became a Sardinian protectorate before receiving independence once again in 1861.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 Mar. 2025
Elon Musk's assault on the federal government has supercharged Tesla's evolution from liberal status symbol to pride-of-MAGA protectorate.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
De jure and de facto European protectorates, such as China, Egypt, Tunisia, and the Ottoman Empire, belonged to the gray zone of states that were nominally independent but in reality were under the thumb of European powers.
—Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
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The Israeli military says more than 400 rockets and hundreds of drones have been launched at Israeli territory since the conflict began.—
Rebecca Rosman,
NPR,
19 June 2025
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From answering the clients’ confusion to leading them on unfamiliar financial territories, the Windfall Advisors team feels like a friend and a partner in their goal of financial security.—
Georgette Virgo,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Failure to acquire the additional capacity would mean HSBC’s return-to-office mandate could be dead on arrival, with thousands of staff unable to find desk space at the bank’s buildings.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
23 June 2025
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This constitutional challenge reflects broader national tensions over religious expression in public education, with the mandate previously receiving support from President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
Noun
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The original promise of the Israeli state was to end, once and for all, the dependency and the powerlessness of an exilic people who had suffered antisemitic persecution for centuries—a dark history that reached its nadir in the Nazi death camps.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
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Still, the country has a long way to go to cut its dependency on China in some key areas, Backeberg told CNBC.—
Sam Meredith,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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