as in republic
a state that has its own government and consists of a city and the area around it
the city-states of ancient Greece
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Recent Examples of city-state
Evoking the concept of kingdoms while exploring diverse expressions of power, the pieces span empires, kingdoms, city-states, chiefdoms, and figures from divine rulers to heroic leaders.
—
Essence, 3 June 2025
It was initially applied to the dominance of one city-state over others.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Singapore’s imports look huge because that city-state is often the first stop on the way to their final destination in other parts of Asia.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Phoenicians gave the world its first alphabet and were formidable sea merchants and colonizers, establishing city-states throughout the central and western Mediterranean.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Essence, 3 June 2025
It was initially applied to the dominance of one city-state over others.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Singapore’s imports look huge because that city-state is often the first stop on the way to their final destination in other parts of Asia.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Phoenicians gave the world its first alphabet and were formidable sea merchants and colonizers, establishing city-states throughout the central and western Mediterranean.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-state
Noun
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In the long term, the collapse of that pillar of regime stability could weaken the edifice of the Islamic republic itself.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
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In the early republic, communications were slow and military deployments took months.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The tomb was discovered at the archeological site of Gordion, the capital of the Phrygian kingdom, which controlled much of Asia Minor during the first millennium BCE, Gordion Excavation Director C. Brian Rose said in a news release.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
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But there is, among others, an unease around the Saudi relationship and the way Infantino and FIFA seemed to clear the way for the kingdom to host the 2034 World Cup.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Fighting a nation of hope is a game that ends in ashes for its enemies.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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The jump to a 5% target will be much smaller for Greece compared to many other nations, but even Athens might not quite make it, Kirkegaard suggested.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Her arrest comes 18 days after Lopez and four others were accused of establishing what prosecutors called a multi-million dollar casino empire before he was elected in 2020.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 June 2025
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The empire has been built on one- or two-day deliveries, real-time tracking and an almost unrestricted return and refund policy—even putting the platform's own sellers in check.—
David Barberá Costarrosa,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The Republican president earlier told reporters that the U.S. was soon preparing to send letters to different countries, informing them of the new tariff rate his administration would impose on them.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 June 2025
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Globally, several countries are reportedly considering nationwide bans on cellphones during school hours.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Known collectively as Hessians, since most Germans hired by London to fight in America came from Hesse-Kassel, this contingent was largely from the small, impoverished duchy of Brunswick, whose ruling family had intermarried with the British royal family.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
13 June 2025
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The duchy is also partnering with local organizations to address homelessness, a key focus of his royal work in recent years.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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One of the most notable differences between the two trials was who did not appear at the second: Michael Proctor, the former Massachusetts state trooper who was the lead investigator in the case and the commonwealth's star witness the first time around.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
18 June 2025
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As a first-time offender of operating a vehicle under the influence, Read will serve just one year of probation, Judge Beverly Cannone ruled – a sentence endorsed by the commonwealth’s prosecutors.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Last year, hometown hero Charles Leclerc took the victory in the principality.—
Kanzah Maktoum,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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Rival principalities, contesting ethnicities/nationalities, and at least three versions of Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian), have roiled the hodgepodge.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-state. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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