sovereign 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsä-v(ə-)rən How to pronounce sovereign (audio)
variants also sovran
Definition of sovereignnext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance the sovereign issue for voters is the inadequate performance of the local schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in independent
not being under the rule or control of another a sovereign state whose domestic policies are its own business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sovereign

2 of 2

noun

ˈsä-v(ə-)rən How to pronounce sovereign (audio)
variants also sovran
as in ruler
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority after the current sovereign dies, the monarchy may be abolished

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sovereign contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sovereign are autonomous, free, and independent. While all these words mean "not subject to the rule or control of another," sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

Where would autonomous be a reasonable alternative to sovereign?

The meanings of autonomous and sovereign largely overlap; however, autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

When would free be a good substitute for sovereign?

While the synonyms free and sovereign are close in meaning, free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

When is independent a more appropriate choice than sovereign?

In some situations, the words independent and sovereign are roughly equivalent. However, independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

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 sovereign
Adjective
The approval comes even after opposition from some major investors, including Norway's sovereign wealth fund. —Retuers, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, PIF, is the majority owner of Humain, which launched in May. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Wall Street, institutions and even sovereigns are migrating infrastructure onto the blockchain and ETH is well positioned to capture value through various channels. —Todd Gordon, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025 Eighty soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment rode alongside the carriages as part of the sovereign’s escort. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sovereign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sovereign
  1. main
  2. independent
  3. ruler
  4. autonomous
  5. monarch
  6. separate
  7. dominant
  8. primary
Adjective
  • Cebu is also one the country’s main tourist centers.
    — Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Most of the money was poured into three main super PACs, both pro-Cuomo and anti-Mamdani.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Democratic Senators Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted for the bill, along with independent Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats.
    — Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The European Union and independent electoral monitoring organizations such as the Carter Center and the Colombian Electoral Mission also backed the opposition’s claim.
    — Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of independent
Noun
  • Over in India, French strategists succeeded in forging a pivotal new anti-British alliance with Haidar Ali, the Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • More recently, Waleed Al-Ibrahim was temporarily detained under orders of current de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman as part of a 2018 corruption probe.
    — Deena Sabry, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of ruler
Adjective
  • The Clockwork manicure was not as comprehensive as what 10Beauty looks to deliver, though absorbing the company’s data has accelerated 10Beauty’s own device and helped the company better understand what will and won’t work in autonomous services.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The company is already exploring applications in other high-volume settings such as hospitals, universities, and factories, and has even partnered with Ukraine’s BRAVE1 defense technology program to test autonomous meal preparation for soldiers in the field.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of autonomous
Noun
  • Sandringham has been the private home of five generations of British monarchs for over 150 years.
    — Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The negotiations to get to this stage will have been challenging but the monarch had no option but to engage damage control mode.
    — Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of monarch
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Lisa and Meredith have a separate conversation about whether or not Meredith’s been sticking up for Lisa enough this season.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The state holds its Congressional elections every other year, along with the rest of the country, but does hold statewide off-year elections on a separate schedule from New Jersey or Virginia.
    — Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of separate
Adjective
  • The first indication that dark energy may not be as dominant as previously thought emerged courtesy of the first results from DESI in Spring 2024.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • While Kalshi and Polymarket remain the dominant players, other challengers are emerging.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • This discount shall apply only to the primary residence of the user and shall not apply to separate irrigation meters.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Last season’s Most Improved Player was the primary defender on Dončić, who was held to 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field in 27 minutes.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of primary

Browse Nearby Words

souvenirs
sovereign
sovereigns
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Cite this Entry

“Sovereign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sovereign. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sovereign

Nglish: Translation of sovereign for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sovereign

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