as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorate
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
Climate and soil conditions differ in each region, and each protectorate has its own indigenous crops.
—Literary Hub, 7 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
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
Climate and soil conditions differ in each region, and each protectorate has its own indigenous crops.
—Literary Hub, 7 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
-
The label is owned by Shaked Berenson’s Studio Dome, a multi-platform distribution company that will also sell global territory rights to the project at next month’s Cannes Film Festival.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
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But coyotes have been steadily gaining territory, booting foxes out of any space wild enough for coyotes to live.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
McGuire said his biggest concern isn’t leadership mandates or AI-native new hires.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
When the owners of Woodmark Apartments in Sebastopol constructed it, the owners accepted money from the USDA with a mandate that it be used for farmworker housing.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His mental health has severely deteriorated, his financial situation is terrible, and his drug dependency is at its worst.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The developer just adds it to their dependencies and calls a function to wrap the key.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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