as in territory
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorate
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.
—
Reuters, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
According to Filomeno Aguilar, Jr, once the Europeans were gone, the hacenderos kowtowed to the Americans, offering the island as a protectorate in the hopes of securing favorable access to the lucrative US market for their sugar.
—JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025
In the lush Bujang Valley, farmers live in the long shadow of the 1909 Anglo-Siamese Treaty (also known as the Bangkok Treaty), in which Thailand ceded a portion of its southern land to Malaysia, which was then a British protectorate.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
And, Isaac, a lot of people have been speaking about Israel becoming an American protectorate.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Reuters, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
According to Filomeno Aguilar, Jr, once the Europeans were gone, the hacenderos kowtowed to the Americans, offering the island as a protectorate in the hopes of securing favorable access to the lucrative US market for their sugar.
—JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025
In the lush Bujang Valley, farmers live in the long shadow of the 1909 Anglo-Siamese Treaty (also known as the Bangkok Treaty), in which Thailand ceded a portion of its southern land to Malaysia, which was then a British protectorate.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
And, Isaac, a lot of people have been speaking about Israel becoming an American protectorate.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protectorate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorate
Noun
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Researchers also learned that these 7- to 10-pound creatures, which are not much larger than a house cat, are impressively agile and travel about seven miles a day in extremely rugged territory.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The legislation defines crimes such as bank robberies and the use of violence to dominate territories or economic activities, with sentences reaching up to 66 years.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Followers like Amresh Chawla say they are drawn to the group’s tenets of vegetarianism and strict moral code, specifically the mandate to shun intoxicants.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Lawmakers should invest in infrastructure, fund water projects and conservation, reduce unfunded mandates, and reward communities that plan responsibly and make development pay its own way.—
Sean Parks,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In multiple phone calls from jail, Nathan Gingles discussed the dependency court case, asking his friend in Texas to pass along information and criticizing Mary’s sister, who was fighting for custody against Schuler.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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There’s no magic fix for Bill’s sadness, nor his drug dependency for many years.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protectorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorate. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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