as in dominion
controlling power or influence over others
a nation whose economic imperium waned after the war
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imperium
Everyone in the imperium knows the emperor is a nincompoop—and yet no one wants to go out on a limb to criticize him.
—
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
The Islamic Republic of Iran is motivated by a desire to bring about the end times and usher in an everlasting Islamic imperium.
—Mike Coté, National Review, 20 July 2025
Nintendo has built a reputation on its willingness to catch fans off-guard, and a shutterbug adventure was the last thing anyone expected at the zenith of Pokemon’s imperium.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
The Islamic Republic of Iran is motivated by a desire to bring about the end times and usher in an everlasting Islamic imperium.
—Mike Coté, National Review, 20 July 2025
Nintendo has built a reputation on its willingness to catch fans off-guard, and a shutterbug adventure was the last thing anyone expected at the zenith of Pokemon’s imperium.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperium
Noun
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But the economy of the British empire as a whole—Britain plus Ireland plus Canada plus Australia plus New Zealand plus South Africa plus India plus the other British dominions and overseas colonies—that entity remained the world’s largest economic unit until during the First World War.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
-
During the Cold War, Radio Free Europe broadcast news to parts of Eastern Europe that were under Communist dominion.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Step into the domination station and enjoy.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Feb. 2026
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Advertisement In the poetry of his performance, Bad Bunny showed that love is not domination.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Emmanuel Macron equated territorial sovereignty with the rights of the French to police their own misinformation and democracy.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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And the loss of our supply chain sovereignty was not a function of a prosperous and healthy system of global trade.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Her impressive athleticism and recent dominance on the international circuit had her entering Milan riding a high.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Dangote Refinery’s increasing dominance of the local supply of refined petrol is expanding its role in determining the market price.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Generally, the federal government does not need to respect local zoning regulations that conflict with federal mandates often referred to as the supremacy clause.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
This beer company had a 10-year lock on Super Bowl commercial supremacy.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imperium.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperium. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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