as in dominion
controlling power or influence over others
a nation whose economic imperium waned after the war
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Recent Examples of imperium
The Islamic Republic of Iran is motivated by a desire to bring about the end times and usher in an everlasting Islamic imperium.
—
Mike Coté, National Review, 20 July 2025
Nintendo has built a reputation on its willingness to catch fans off-guard, and a shutterbug adventure was the last thing anyone expected at the zenith of Pokemon’s imperium.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
But our failure to anticipate this most recent spark of dissent is perhaps more understandable; after all, as Xi’s one-party Leninist imperium has gathered momentum, most foreign journalists have been expelled from China.
—Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2022
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Playing that particular Neil Young tune to represent the American imperium was an insidious selection.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2024
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But unlike the familiar realm of the Caesars, this imperium doesn’t govern only humans: Talking beasts also live as citizens in the empire.
—Liz Braswell, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2023
Many people in what was formerly East Germany, part of the Soviet imperium until shortly before German unification in 1990, look favorably on Moscow.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Mike Coté, National Review, 20 July 2025
Nintendo has built a reputation on its willingness to catch fans off-guard, and a shutterbug adventure was the last thing anyone expected at the zenith of Pokemon’s imperium.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
But our failure to anticipate this most recent spark of dissent is perhaps more understandable; after all, as Xi’s one-party Leninist imperium has gathered momentum, most foreign journalists have been expelled from China.
—Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2022
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Playing that particular Neil Young tune to represent the American imperium was an insidious selection.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2024
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But unlike the familiar realm of the Caesars, this imperium doesn’t govern only humans: Talking beasts also live as citizens in the empire.
—Liz Braswell, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2023
Many people in what was formerly East Germany, part of the Soviet imperium until shortly before German unification in 1990, look favorably on Moscow.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperium
Noun
-
The BIDs have influence over about half of 14th Street; the Union Square folks’ dominion covers First to Sixth Avenues, the Meatpacking group’s from Eighth to the Hudson.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
29 July 2025
-
And yet if history is any guide, Moscow could go to extreme lengths to preserve its regional dominion.—
JEFFREY MANKOFF,
Foreign Affairs,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
The Trump administration’s rollback of clean energy initiatives and focus on expanding U.S. domination of natural gas exports is set to transform U.S. and global energy markets for decades to come.—
Amalia Huot-Marchand,
The Hill,
26 Aug. 2025
-
These are not masterminds seeking global domination.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In the open era, age records have gone down slightly, but still show player dominance past traditional peak years.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Paranoia is pure American, older than the Constitution—the northern states, for instance, denounced the three-fifths compromise as a Southern play for dominance.—
Book Marks
August 14,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
While Washington threatens, Venezuela steadily advances in peace and sovereignty, demonstrating that true effectiveness against crime is achieved by respecting the independence of its peoples.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Protecting America’s youth and digital sovereignty cannot wait.—
Autumn Dorsey,
Boston Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The stated goal of the Trump administration’s AI Action Plan is to preserve American supremacy in the global AI arms race.—
Craig Spencer,
The Atlantic,
29 Aug. 2025
-
In the headlong rush for technological supremacy, strange new risks are being created.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperium.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperium. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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