as in democracy
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation when asked by a passerby what sort of government the constitutional convention had formulated for the new nation, Benjamin Franklin memorably replied, "A republic, if you can keep it"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of republic Noah himself abandoned ship when his calls for a Jewish republic were rebuffed by religious leaders. Adam L. Rovner, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025 Yet the republic endured because of its central organizing principle: the separation of powers. Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025 The past holds many examples of great change: regimes ending, monarchies becoming republics, whole civilizations vanishing, ways of managing relations between peoples and states swept aside, to be replaced by new ones. Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025 Drawn out of his humble galley kitchen and into a world of diplomatic intrigue, Carême becomes a pawn in the cold war between Talleyrand, a Machiavellian schemer stabbing backs in the name of a newborn republic, and Fouché, a draconian lawman who mistrusts anything that moves. Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for republic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for republic
democracy
Noun
  • At a time when federal courts are acting as the protectors of our democracy, this is a necessary step toward bolstering confidence, faith and independence to our nation's highest court.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • So this is certainly not helping Jews to basically dismantle democracy and defund universities.
    Brian Bennett, Time, 23 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Republic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/republic. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on republic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!