as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorate
In 1815, Monaco became a Sardinian protectorate before receiving independence once again in 1861.
—
Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 Mar. 2025
Elon Musk's assault on the federal government has supercharged Tesla's evolution from liberal status symbol to pride-of-MAGA protectorate.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
De jure and de facto European protectorates, such as China, Egypt, Tunisia, and the Ottoman Empire, belonged to the gray zone of states that were nominally independent but in reality were under the thumb of European powers.
—Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022
Military setbacks forced Khmelnytsky to search for allies, and after the Pereyaslav Treaty of 1654, the Cossack lands became a protectorate of the Russian tsars.
—Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2013
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 Mar. 2025
Elon Musk's assault on the federal government has supercharged Tesla's evolution from liberal status symbol to pride-of-MAGA protectorate.
—Nathan Bomey, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
De jure and de facto European protectorates, such as China, Egypt, Tunisia, and the Ottoman Empire, belonged to the gray zone of states that were nominally independent but in reality were under the thumb of European powers.
—Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022
Military setbacks forced Khmelnytsky to search for allies, and after the Pereyaslav Treaty of 1654, the Cossack lands became a protectorate of the Russian tsars.
—Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2013
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
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Sikes delves into uncharted territory, with pieces that are a first for the designer.—
India Roby,
Architectural Digest,
2 May 2025
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President Trump is right that Ukraine isn’t strong enough to expel Russian forces and may have to accept the long-term occupation of some of its territory.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2025
Noun
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In 2011, just before a tsunami engulfed the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, the Swiss parliament had discussed discontinuing the 1963 shelter mandate.—
Jessi Jezewska Stevens,
The Dial,
24 Apr. 2025
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While Google has been gradually nudging employees back to the office, this latest move amounts to a crack down on workers dodging the hybrid-schedule mandates.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Rapid expansion without profitability is a recipe for dependency on external funding.—
Jonathan Low,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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Over time, this dynamic may develop into a toxic cycle of dependency.—
Eddie Brummelman,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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