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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 martial law
Judge Ji believed Yoon deserved a severe penalty for his martial law decree.
—
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Feb. 2026
As lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly, Yoon's martial law command issued a proclamation declaring sweeping powers, including suspending political activities, controlling the media and publications, and allowing arrests without warrants.
—CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Other trials are still ongoing, including one in which he is charged with treason after he was accused of ordering that drones be sent into North Korean airspace to provoke a confrontation that could justify martial law.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
The Seoul court also handed down a 30-year sentence to Yoon’s defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, and lesser prison terms to other former military and police officials who helped implement the martial law decree.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Feb. 2026
As lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly, Yoon's martial law command issued a proclamation declaring sweeping powers, including suspending political activities, controlling the media and publications, and allowing arrests without warrants.
—CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Other trials are still ongoing, including one in which he is charged with treason after he was accused of ordering that drones be sent into North Korean airspace to provoke a confrontation that could justify martial law.
—Stella Kim, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
The Seoul court also handed down a 30-year sentence to Yoon’s defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, and lesser prison terms to other former military and police officials who helped implement the martial law decree.
—Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial law
Noun
-
Italy's Constitutional Court on March 12 upheld a 2025 law restricting citizenship to persons with an Italian parent or grandparent.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Uncompensated seizure under the land-expropriation law can only be pursued under narrow circumstances—when land is unused or has been abandoned, for example—and the program seemingly has yet to seize any property.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Another 10 states have imposed a duty to warn under common law.—
Virginia Hammerle,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Online court records show Derond Crawford is charged with one count each of using a computer to commit a crime, common law offenses and interfering with electronic communications in connection with the incident.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The council last year passed an ordinance that will require sidewalk-detection technology by July 1, with parking restrictions required for some areas by next year.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Soon patrons will be able to walk around the South Downtown Entertainment District with a drink in hand, thanks to a city ordinance exemption passed by the Atlanta City Council on Monday.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Under that legislation, state and local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from working with reality TV shows.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Sacks said the next step is to work with Congress to turn the administration's principles into federal legislation.—
SEUNG MIN KIM,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The constraints on Japan’s involvement in Iran include a provision in its post-World War II constitution that bans the use of force except to defend its territory.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Japan’s pacifist postwar constitution imposes strict limits on the use of force.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial%20law. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
