protectorate

as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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 protectorate 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 Wharton visited the French protectorate to write a book that would appeal to tourists. New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
  • Recognizing Russia's control of Crimea would deliver a major win for Putin, who has long pushed for international legitimacy over the territory.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
  • China claims Taiwan as its territory, to be retaken by force if necessary.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday indefinitely suspended a lower court mandate that the government immediately return him to the U.S. to fix the mistake.
    Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The goal was to deny the victors a mandate to govern the vanquished.
    Made by History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • By implementing regenerative agricultural practices, SRI focuses on enhancing soil health, conserving biodiversity, reducing chemical dependency, and promoting water conservation.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The nonprofit views its cash transfers not as handouts perpetuating a cycle of dependency, but as starting capital that recipients can use to invest in a new life.
    Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on protectorate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!