as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorate
Leveugle's father worked at the French Embassy, and Leveugle attended school in the Moroccan capital during the final years of the French protectorate, the official said.
—
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
This tiny Dutch protectorate in the Leeward Islands hosts no cruise ships.
—Betsy Andrews, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
When sovereignty is confiscated and freedom administered from the outside, when the terms of liberation are dictated, the result is not a democratic transition but a protectorate dressed up in the language of damage control.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
The city’s exotic mix of Arab, Berber, African, and European cultures—Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and French is still widely spoken—gives it a unique feel that’s typified by the ambience of the quietly opulent La Mamounia hotel.
—Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
This tiny Dutch protectorate in the Leeward Islands hosts no cruise ships.
—Betsy Andrews, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
When sovereignty is confiscated and freedom administered from the outside, when the terms of liberation are dictated, the result is not a democratic transition but a protectorate dressed up in the language of damage control.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
The city’s exotic mix of Arab, Berber, African, and European cultures—Morocco was a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and French is still widely spoken—gives it a unique feel that’s typified by the ambience of the quietly opulent La Mamounia hotel.
—Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
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Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed more than 350 Ukrainian drones over territories both close to the border but also as further afield as Moscow, St Petersburg, and Novgorod in the country’s west, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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The celebration encompasses parades, bars, formal balls and costumes, and the parade routes in particular are family territory.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
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That's because some jurisdictions weakened their public health authorities in response to criticism of lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, vaccine requirements and other COVID-era restrictions.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
4 June 2026
-
Congress gave states near-exclusive power under the Federal Power Act to set energy policies, including green mandates.—
Jennifer Nassour,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Solve problems in ways that reduce organizational friction rather than increase dependency on you.—
Mark Nevins,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
The event took place at The Montálban Theatre in Los Angeles on April 22, with 100% of ticket sales going toward the organization’s mission of providing financial crisis relief, mental health therapy, chemical dependency treatment sponsorship, and community support for stand-up comedians.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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