as in law
control of an area by military forces rather than by the police
The government has declared martial law throughout the city to stop the riots. an area placed under martial law
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Recent Examples of martial law
In recent weeks, the Los Angeles immigration crackdown has become the epicentre of a dangerous national experiment—one in which immigration enforcement is serving as the pretext for something far more ominous: a steady descent into possible martial law.
—
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
After Yoon declared martial law in December, Lee led his party in overturning it and eventually impeaching Yoon.
—Se Eun Gong, NPR, 2 June 2025
Supporting Yoon’s impeachment, Lee has also condemned Yoon’s unconstitutional abuse of martial law and espousal of election fraud conspiracy theory.
—Jong Eun Lee, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
All this feeds the national fear that Trump will invent a phony emergency to declare martial law in order to postpone the 2026 midterm elections that could — and should — erase his control of Congress.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
After Yoon declared martial law in December, Lee led his party in overturning it and eventually impeaching Yoon.
—Se Eun Gong, NPR, 2 June 2025
Supporting Yoon’s impeachment, Lee has also condemned Yoon’s unconstitutional abuse of martial law and espousal of election fraud conspiracy theory.
—Jong Eun Lee, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
All this feeds the national fear that Trump will invent a phony emergency to declare martial law in order to postpone the 2026 midterm elections that could — and should — erase his control of Congress.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial law
Noun
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In 1965: In a landmark moment for health care, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed amendments to the Social Securities Act of 1935 into law, creating two federal health programs: Medicare and Medicaid.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
31 July 2025
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Tuscaloosa's first brewpub, opening after Alabama passed a 2009 gourmet beer law, spotlights musicians, writers and other artists in its Moon Room, serves stylized pub food with indoor-outdoor dining and offers classic pinball, video and board games inside.—
Susan Stapleton,
The Tennessean,
31 July 2025
Noun
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Following the tradition of English common law, it was understood that a property owner held everything from the heavens to the core of the Earth.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
25 July 2025
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That's not possible, though, because Ohio banned common law marriages in 1991.—
Laura A. Bischoff,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Milwaukee doesn't name any extras in its ordinances, so those three are the main ones to watch.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
25 July 2025
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Some trustees and Village President Michael Jenny acknowledged that use of e-bikes should be specifically addressed in Glenview’s ordinance.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Berrien was previously a member of the bipartisan group Democracy Found, which had other members testify for the legislation, including Greg Marcus, CEO of Marcus Corporation, which owns the movie theater chain.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
29 July 2025
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Pritzker is pushing for new legislation to hold down electricity supply costs, including expanding alternative energy sources that feed into the grid.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
28 July 2025
Noun
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The white supremacists who wrote the Texas constitutions of 1866 and 1876 ensured that schooling for Black and white students remained inherently separate and unequal.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Why does a judge swear to discharge his duties agreeably to the constitution of the United States, if that constitution forms no rule for his government?—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial%20law. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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