as in law
control of an area by military forces rather than by the police
The government has declared martial law throughout the city to stop the riots. an area placed under martial law
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Examples of martial law in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Speaking to reporters, Packard suggested that the death of an American in Persia was a political maneuver planned as an excuse to declare martial law.
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Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
The junta had just seized power in a coup d’etat and declared martial law when Byung-moon was ordered to count the number of bodies in a minibus after a brigade opened fire on it.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2024
But from the very beginning, this vision was never fulfilled—after all, for nearly two decades after the signing of the declaration, Palestinians in Israel lived under martial law.
—Ilan Z. Baron, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2024
In August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the state’s longstanding self-determination rights and temporarily imposed martial law.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for martial law 
Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
The junta had just seized power in a coup d’etat and declared martial law when Byung-moon was ordered to count the number of bodies in a minibus after a brigade opened fire on it.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2024
But from the very beginning, this vision was never fulfilled—after all, for nearly two decades after the signing of the declaration, Palestinians in Israel lived under martial law.
—Ilan Z. Baron, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2024
In August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the state’s longstanding self-determination rights and temporarily imposed martial law.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for martial law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial law
Noun
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New York University law professor, Stephen Gillers, agreed that Republicans could persuade Thomas and Alito to retire.Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
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Enacted in 1992, this piece of tax law aimed to lower the potential costs faced by wealthy people when deciding to join the federal government, Edward McCaffery, a law professor at the University of Southern California who focuses on tax policy, told ABC News.Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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And though the common law prohibited torture, James could use the rack, dungeon, and Skevington’s irons to get his way.Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
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However, it has been heavily criticized since its inception, particularly for its departure from traditional elements of common law fraud, such as requiring an intent to defraud.Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Sep. 2024
Noun
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An 1851 New York City ordinance prohibited full-body burials south of 86th Street unless the individual was to be placed in part of a family crypt.Christina Ray Stanton, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024
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On this day in 1881: A city ordinance in Tombstone, Arizona, prohibiting weapons within town limits triggered the famous shootout at the OK Corral.The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
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But trans rights hang precariously in the balance in Missouri, especially as 47 of the 622 pieces of anti-trans legislation put forward by local legislators have been from the Show-Me State alone.Quispe López, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
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The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, which Harris’s economic plan touts by name, originated with AI legislation that passed near the end of Trump’s term.Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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While legislators passed four property tax relief bills in the 2024 session, politicians in Wyoming cannot raise or lower taxes specifically on residential properties unless the classes are changed in the constitution.Cy Neff, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024
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Indeed, text is integral to Bader’s oeuvre, whether elucidating, in the artist’s own unique fashion, the proper constitution of his objects and assemblages, or simply existing as stand-alone artworks unto themselves.Jeff Gibson, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near martial law
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial%20law. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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