as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorate
The Crimean Khanate became a protectorate of the Ottoman Empire, where the two groups frequently engaged in trade.
—
Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The Kremlin has consolidated its de facto protectorate in Belarus and fostered close ties with politicians in Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, and the Moldovan opposition.
—Jeffrey Mankoff, Foreign Affairs, 24 July 2025
France had claimed the island as a protectorate, in 1842; by the time Gauguin arrived, the bamboo buildings in the capital, Papeete, had been replaced by travesties of brick and iron.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Determined to gain at least suzerainty over the island – which would have made Haiti a protectorate of France – Louis XVIII rebuked the two commissioners Boyer sent to Paris in 1824 to try to negotiate an indemnity in exchange for recognition.
—Marlene L. Daut, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The Kremlin has consolidated its de facto protectorate in Belarus and fostered close ties with politicians in Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, and the Moldovan opposition.
—Jeffrey Mankoff, Foreign Affairs, 24 July 2025
France had claimed the island as a protectorate, in 1842; by the time Gauguin arrived, the bamboo buildings in the capital, Papeete, had been replaced by travesties of brick and iron.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
Determined to gain at least suzerainty over the island – which would have made Haiti a protectorate of France – Louis XVIII rebuked the two commissioners Boyer sent to Paris in 1824 to try to negotiate an indemnity in exchange for recognition.
—Marlene L. Daut, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
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Eight New York Jets showed pressure against just five available Broncos blockers, with the rest of Nix’s arsenal split out wide as Denver looked for a spark deep in its own territory.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
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These factions do not hold stable territory, but their sporadic resistance — from raids to armed standoffs — signals the first cracks in Hamas’s grip.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ohio law already limits how schools can approach vaccine mandates.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Oct. 2025
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Voices in the power industry note other factors raising electric bills, such as state-level mandates for clean energy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Europe’s over-reliance on Chinese manufacturing and American defence technology has created dual dependencies that undermine strategic autonomy.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
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Among the allegations, the USTR determined that China uses state subsidies to lessen competition and create dependencies on the country for non-market entrants.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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