as in republics
a state that has its own government and consists of a city and the area around it
the city-states of ancient Greece
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Recent Examples of city-states
His route to Sparta would have taken him through Corinth, Nemea, and Arcadia and avoided kingdoms or city-states not allied with Athens.
—
Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
Those myths were conveyed through performance, sung in the great halls of the elite, recited at festivals all across the ancient world, staged at the theatre to large audiences, and displayed on wall paintings, mosaics, vases, and sculptures that adorned both sacred sanctuaries and city-states.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
With crops failing and fears of starvation rising, some wealthy Italian city-states like Florence and Venice imported grain from elsewhere in the world.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
An ensuing grain shortage threatened to spark a famine or civil unrest, so Italian city-states, such as Venice and Genoa, resorted to emergency imports from the Black Sea region, which helped keep the population fed.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
Consequently, Persia abandoned its westward expansion, while various Greek city-states formed a tenuous alliance that lasted nearly 50 years.
—Debbie Felton, The Conversation, 8 Aug. 2025
Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
Those myths were conveyed through performance, sung in the great halls of the elite, recited at festivals all across the ancient world, staged at the theatre to large audiences, and displayed on wall paintings, mosaics, vases, and sculptures that adorned both sacred sanctuaries and city-states.
—Literary Hub, 27 Feb. 2026
With crops failing and fears of starvation rising, some wealthy Italian city-states like Florence and Venice imported grain from elsewhere in the world.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
An ensuing grain shortage threatened to spark a famine or civil unrest, so Italian city-states, such as Venice and Genoa, resorted to emergency imports from the Black Sea region, which helped keep the population fed.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
Consequently, Persia abandoned its westward expansion, while various Greek city-states formed a tenuous alliance that lasted nearly 50 years.
—Debbie Felton, The Conversation, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-states
Noun
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Cliffs of Moher, Ireland The rugged coastline of County Clare served as a dramatic setting in Harry Potter, and the wider Wild Atlantic Way has doubled as everything from fantasy kingdoms to period dramas.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Mar. 2026
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That’s County Clare’s rugged coastline, and the wider Wild Atlantic Way has doubled as everything from fantasy kingdoms to period dramas.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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China and India gained early access to Russian crude and maintain strategic reserves, while the opportunity for other nations to buy is rapidly shrinking.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
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Ten nations, including K-pop giant South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia and Laos are set to compete in the inaugural competition, with more participants to be announced in the coming months, according to the contest’s website.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Over the centuries, it would be conquered by empires of varying beliefs.—
Seth Doane,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The three Islamic empires engaged in a series of wars and battles in which gunpowder weaponry, particularly artillery and handheld firearms, played a key role.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This is true, at least, in more than eighty-five countries around the world.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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At the latter stages of the transition, aging richer countries now require workers from overseas – but are coming up against a nativist backlash.—
John Rennie Short,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“City-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-states. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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