sovereign 1 of 2

variants also sovran
Definition of sovereignnext

sovereign

2 of 2

noun

variants also sovran

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
After the last several years of supply chain disruptions, premiums have increased dramatically and have remained elevated compared to other sovereign silver coins. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026 At the end of season three, Kay and Down made the decision to effectively shut down Pierpoint, selling the British bank to Al-Mi’raj, an Egyptian sovereign wealth fund, which closes the London trading floor where much of Industry’s action took place. Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
The Christmas broadcast is one of the British monarch's most famous royal duties and serves as a way for the sovereign to reflect on the previous year, current events around the world and the meaning of Christmas. Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025 The tiara was later passed on to Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Mary’s granddaughter, and was worn by the long-reigning sovereign on several occasions throughout her historic reign. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sovereign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sovereign
Adjective
  • White actually carried main voice Terry Gannon through parts of the broadcast.
    John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Shah’s daughter, Smita Shah, is a finance committee vice chair for Stratton’s main campaign fund, Juliana for Illinois.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The fallout from the files has consumed much of the news media in recent weeks, dominating headlines and coverage at major news institutions as journalists and independent creators dig through the files for embarrassing nuggets of association about high-profile individuals.
    Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Confirming independent biological signatures.
    Big Think, Big Think, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Discovering a site like this allows archaeologists to further understand the culture and society of early medieval England, when the country was fragmented into several kingdoms but rulers like Offa were beginning to unify it and Alfred the Great was fighting off Viking invaders.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
  • And third, taking Maduro off the board was a force-multiplier for the administration’s Cuba policy, which centers on increasing economic pressure on the island until its aging rulers either wither away or negotiate their own demise.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • In real-world scenarios, efficiency declined slightly but remained better than existing autonomous systems.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The Midas Project also claims that OpenAI cannot definitively prove the model lacks the autonomy required for the extra measures, as the company’s previous, less advanced model already topped global benchmarks for autonomous task completion.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Learn about Hawaiian history at ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu, the former royal residence of the last reigning monarchs of Hawaii.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Last week, the British monarch forced his brother to vacate his longtime home at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • This one even has two separate teasers.
    Omar L. Gallaga, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Parallel giant slalom requires speed and precision as riders race side-by-side downhill, slaloming around the gates on two separate quasi-identical courses.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Buc-ee's has become one of the most dominant — and beloved — brands in Texas, which could explain why some people would be concerned about a potential donation to ICE.
    Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Liverpool haven’t historically been viewed as dominant in the transfer market, and for good reason.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The Gates Foundation and OpenAI have launched a $50 million program to bring AI capabilities to 1,000 primary health care clinics across Africa.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The Amazon-like company has been subjected to a number of investigations, raids, and inspections initiated by the Korea Fair Trade Commission, the country’s primary antitrust regulator, in recent years.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sovereign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sovereign. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

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