variants
also sovrans
as in rulers
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
Relevance
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 sovereigns
But a series of 15th century directives from the Vatican authorized Portuguese sovereigns to conquer Africa and the Americas and enslave non-Christians.
—
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
Encouraged and frightened by the events at Naples, other sovereigns granted constitutions.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Whatever their precise content, the blessings of liberty allow people to be something like sovereigns over their own lives.
—Cass Sunstein, Big Think, 5 Mar. 2026
The situation weighs on regional risk on the margins, but most of those sovereigns carry strong balance sheets, Appio explained.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
And the reason for that is that the default data and the default experience does not coincide with the ratings that the ratings agencies attribute to African sovereigns.
—Harvard Business Review, 13 Nov. 2025
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has similarly dropped into deep curtsies when meeting other sovereigns on trips abroad.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Credit rating agencies are sharpening their focus on climate vulnerability, raising questions about whether sectors or sovereigns with large protection gaps could face higher borrowing costs.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
Encouraged and frightened by the events at Naples, other sovereigns granted constitutions.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Whatever their precise content, the blessings of liberty allow people to be something like sovereigns over their own lives.
—Cass Sunstein, Big Think, 5 Mar. 2026
The situation weighs on regional risk on the margins, but most of those sovereigns carry strong balance sheets, Appio explained.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
And the reason for that is that the default data and the default experience does not coincide with the ratings that the ratings agencies attribute to African sovereigns.
—Harvard Business Review, 13 Nov. 2025
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has similarly dropped into deep curtsies when meeting other sovereigns on trips abroad.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Credit rating agencies are sharpening their focus on climate vulnerability, raising questions about whether sectors or sovereigns with large protection gaps could face higher borrowing costs.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sovereigns
Noun
-
The strikes, which Afghanistan's Taliban rulers said hit the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, shattered more than a month of calm in the war.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
-
Past philosophers, such as Aristotle, emphasized the necessity of virtue in both the people and their rulers, and Montesquieu argued that virtue was the defining principle of republics.—
Jordan Cash,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Queen Elizabeth's birthday was in April, while King Charles' is in November, but both monarchs opted to hold the public celebrations in June.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
Milkweed aphids are typically much less damaging to monarchs than pest control treatments, including organic treatment protocols.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
But in his third and rockiest year at the helm of the Trojans, Riley was still compensated like one of the kings of the sport.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
The collection spans centuries of storytelling in multiple genres, from migratory fairytales with kings and princesses to legends of ghosts and the Devil to fables with talking animals.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sovereigns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sovereigns. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
