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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of martial law
Elections are legally banned under martial law and impractical as long as Ukraine remains at war.
—
Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
The military declares martial law in the town as Daniels and his fellow scientists race to develop a cure, even as the nefarious McClintock schemes to bomb Cedar Creek to smithereens to contain the virus.
—Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025
At the start of proceedings, prosecutors presented their case by arguing Yoon lacked the legal grounds to declare martial law and accused him of trying to paralyse state institutions such as parliament.
—Joyce Lee, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Second, governments with more democratic characteristics are less likely to use extreme violence such as declaring martial law, routinely committing human rights abuses, or killing large numbers of people.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
The military declares martial law in the town as Daniels and his fellow scientists race to develop a cure, even as the nefarious McClintock schemes to bomb Cedar Creek to smithereens to contain the virus.
—Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2025
At the start of proceedings, prosecutors presented their case by arguing Yoon lacked the legal grounds to declare martial law and accused him of trying to paralyse state institutions such as parliament.
—Joyce Lee, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Second, governments with more democratic characteristics are less likely to use extreme violence such as declaring martial law, routinely committing human rights abuses, or killing large numbers of people.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martial law
Noun
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The state's Senate approved the proposal, which is modeled after Arizona’s law, on April 1.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Prosecution: Autism doesn’t prevent death penalty in any state Arguments that other states, such as Ohio and Kentucky, expanded their laws to bar people with serious mental illness from facing the death penalty don’t apply, Hippler said.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This interpretation is wildly beyond that used for common law employees under the Internal Revenue Code and the Fair Labor Standards Act.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2025
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The reason why this distinction between common and statutory law matters, at least to Jackson, is because the concept of aiding and abetting arises out of the common law.—
Ian Millhiser,
Vox,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Two men, ages 40 and 45, were arrested for battery and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, while a 28-year-old woman was arrested for vulgar language in violation of a city ordinance.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2025
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The ordinance would establish a nonprofit developer arm of the city’s Department of Housing to offer developers low-cost loans during construction.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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What To Know Between 2007 and 2021, mortgage insurance premiums were tax deductible for these homebuyers, but the legislation expired in 2021.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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Once implemented, Rights of Nature legislation potentially affords a whole host of litigation advantages.—
India Nye Wenner,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Certainly the extraordinary performance of the U.S. economy since ratification of the constitution makes a strong argument for this structure of government.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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He’s even expressed willingness to reform Ecuador’s constitution — potentially allowing for the formal return of a US military presence, like the one that existed from 1999 to 2009 at the now-defunct Manta Air Base.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martial%20law. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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