as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorate
According to the Washington Post, the administration is considering a post-war plan that would turn Gaza into a kind of U.S. protectorate and not a fully autonomous state, at least temporarily.
—
Michele Chabin, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The film, a veritable love letter to the city, was inspired by Touzani’s beloved maternal grandmother, a Spaniard who arrived in Morocco during the Spanish protectorate and lived in Tangier all her life.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Michele Chabin, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The film, a veritable love letter to the city, was inspired by Touzani’s beloved maternal grandmother, a Spaniard who arrived in Morocco during the Spanish protectorate and lived in Tangier all her life.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
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His administration is also working to suspend the use of a protection mechanism that temporarily gives native land status to territories that haven’t fully completed the demarcation process.—
Adriana Brasileiro,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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In any case, the film feels as excitingly changeable as its art style, something which pushes into more emotionally fraught territory during its last half hour.—
Kambole Campbell,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The pause grants the White House more time to argue its case against the mandate, which critics say could have strained federal resources, while supporters viewed it as essential to safeguarding food security for millions of low-income Americans.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
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That 5-million-square-foot sorting and handling site temporarily closed midweek due to a cargo plane crash on location, already causing shipment delays ahead of the FAA mandate.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Nearly a decade ago, McDaniel was diagnosed with depression and developed a psychological dependency on alcohol, it has been widely reported.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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Take the legendary hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, who told my colleague Diane Brady onstage that America is developing a dependency on a tiny cohort of high-level workers, specifically those in tech.—
Kristin Stoller,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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