as in democracy
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation when asked by a passerby what sort of government the constitutional convention had formulated for the new nation, Benjamin Franklin memorably replied, "A republic, if you can keep it"

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of republic Israel has targeted Iran's largest nuclear facility in an airstrike on Saturday, according to an official in the Islamic republic. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025 So could a Russian attempt to seize land in former Soviet republics where Russian-speaking minorities are numerous. Adam Rasmi, Time, 20 June 2025 While the mission was originally pegged as an attempt to destroy Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, Israel has seemingly expanded the goal to include overturning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rule in the Islamic republic. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 18 June 2025 As the public realized that Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, had no intention of ceding to the revolutionaries’ demands, calls to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic proliferated. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for republic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for republic
democracy
Noun
  • This is essential to stop further erosion of the rule of law, the attack on democracy, and the threat of authoritarianism.
    Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Persistent illiberalism in both erstwhile liberal democracies would strengthen similar political forces in other countries.
    ASHLEY J. TELLIS, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Republic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/republic. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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