suzerain

noun

Definition of suzerainnext
as in emperor

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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 suzerain Citizens of countries historically exploited by the West face higher financial and bureaucratic hurdles to access facilities and resources concentrated in their former suzerain. — WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 In buttressing Lukashenko’s regime, Russia became Belarus’s outright suzerain. — Casey Michel, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2022 Most Somalilanders have known nothing but self-rule and would never consent to reintegrate with their bloody, anarchic suzerain. — The Economist, 8 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suzerain
  1. emperor
  2. prince
  3. king
  4. satrap
  5. sultan
  6. empress
  7. princess
  8. sovereign
Noun
  • This title, which appears under Frederick III (German king from 1440 and Holy Roman emperor from 1452 to 1493), indicates that the emperor’s powers were limited to his German lands.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • Currently, the emperor’s 60-year-old brother, Fumihito, also known as Crown Prince Ashikino, is in line to inherit, followed by his 19-year-old son, Prince Hisahito.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
Definition of emperor
Noun
  • The bulk of the original tale — Lara’s encounter with her sea witch aunt Grace, her emergence into the world of humans, her romance with a dashing prince — is sped through in the show’s first 15 minutes.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
  • The unidentified sitter, meanwhile, is believed to be a wife of a nawab, or an Indian prince.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of prince
Noun
  • Staterooms are boutique-hotel luxurious, featuring king beds and private balconies for sunrise coffees.
    — Stephanie Orma, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • And the wandering king’s son and heir, Telemachus (Tom Holland), is convinced his father is still alive and sets off to find him.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of king
Noun
  • The ranks of the leadership are staffed, in large measure, with satraps and mediocrities.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • The quick collapse of the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satraps unsettled both nations.
    — Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Definition of satrap
Noun
  • Guides spoke of the monthlong siege that ended only because of the treachery of a local noble who turned on the sultan and allowed British troops to scale the walls.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
  • The sultan learned about the American colonists’ war for independence indirectly, through the local French consul and European reports.
    — Scott Spires Britannica Editors June 23, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 June 2026
Definition of sultan
Noun
  • An exceedingly select company gathered July 3 to witness the union of America's reigning pop empress and her championship tight end — a gentleman whose prowess extends far beyond the football field.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • It was commissioned by Catherine the Great by 1787 as a companion to another work owned by the Russian empress, Servius Tullius as a Child Asleep beneath the Miraculous Flame (1783–85).
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of empress
Noun
  • At Wimbledon this year, the 11-year-old princess wore a vibrant blue dress that recalled Middleton’s blue Gabriela Hearst suit, worn to the Grand Slam tennis tournament just days earlier.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
  • The 18-year-old princess, the youngest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, is set to study Liberal Arts & Sciences at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands, starting in September.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
Definition of princess
Noun
  • As one of the big three ratings agencies, alongside Fitch and Moody’s, S&P Global plays a crucial role in determining whether African sovereigns and businesses can secure capital from international financial markets.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
  • While the Royal Standard is never lowered to half-mast—the reason being that there is always a sovereign on the throne—the Union Jack can be lowered to half-staff, which is exactly what happened to honor Diana.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 28 July 2026
Definition of sovereign

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Cite this Entry

“Suzerain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suzerain. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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