power politics

noun

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: politics based primarily on the use of power (such as military and economic strength) as a coercive force rather than on ethical precepts

Examples of power politics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tectonic plates of global power politics crunched together at a new focal point in recent days as Russia and Azerbaijan insulted each other publicly with the world watching. —Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Even as this piece goes to press, the continuing saga of Paramount’s power politics and powerful egos seems to be heating up a bit. —Andrew Tobias, Vulture, 7 July 2025

In recent years, challenges from Russian aggression to Chinese mercantilism to American abandonment have revealed just how unprepared a demilitarized Europe is to handle old-fashioned power politics. —Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025

No one knows how this grand experiment in raw geopolitical power politics will play out. —Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for power politics

• biopolitics
• bolsheviks
• candlesticks
• crucifix
• intermix
• lunatics
• mensheviks
• orthotics
• politicks
• bricks
• brix
• chicks