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
As children, Vi and Jinx lose their parents in an abortive revolution in Zaun, and years later find themselves on opposite sides of an unfolding power struggle between the two city-states.
—
David Faris, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
With very few exceptions, an end was declared, not only to empires, but also to city-states, duchies, principalities, emirates, sultanates, caliphates, khanates, agencies, princely states, colonies, suzerains, dependencies, mandates, tributaries, condominia and protectorates.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
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
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
David Faris, TheWeek, 22 May 2026
With very few exceptions, an end was declared, not only to empires, but also to city-states, duchies, principalities, emirates, sultanates, caliphates, khanates, agencies, princely states, colonies, suzerains, dependencies, mandates, tributaries, condominia and protectorates.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
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
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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Absolute kingdoms of the '90s and early-2000s.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
All kingdoms crumble, though, and after a decade-plus reign, the cupcake was left behind—an aging monarch overthrown by Dominique Ansel’s cronut, and the neophilic nature of social media feeds.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Before the war, around 20% of the world's crude oil supply, from Persian Gulf nations, was typically carried through the strait by tanker to reach Asia and elsewhere.—
May 19,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
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Meanwhile, nations have already begun deploying OFPV systems on reservoirs, lakes, as well as offshore waters to avoid competing with agriculture or urban development.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Titans fall and new empires rise.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
-
In MobLand, two mob families clash in a war that threatens to topple empires and lives.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, a study of 39 participant groups in 15 countries showed that people experience the same rhythm differently depending on the culture in which they’ve been immersed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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Of the 51 countries that have earned Blue Flag designations this year, only a few are in Asia.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“City-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-states. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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