as in territories
a small country that is controlled and protected by a larger one
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Recent Examples of protectorates
The British went on to claim regions of the coast and declare them as protectorates.
—
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
During the 1830s attempts were made to safeguard Aboriginal peoples by placing them under supervision in protectorates, but these attempts failed and were abandoned after the coming of self-government in the 1850s.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
During the 1830s attempts were made to safeguard Aboriginal peoples by placing them under supervision in protectorates, but these attempts failed and were abandoned after the coming of self-government in the 1850s.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protectorates
Noun
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Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 50 titles in contemporary romance fiction, whose works have sold over two million copies and been translated in over a dozen international territories.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
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Some wolves have established territories, while others roam more broadly, the department said.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Toward the stuff that holds up even when the shots don’t fall, and toward the way Knueppel carries himself within possessions.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Heat’s zone worked on several second-half possessions, but Miami still allowed too many open threes -- and had too many defensive breakdowns -- when the game was decided in the fourth quarter.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This restructuring is further propelled by direct funding relationships, corporate partnerships, and platform dependencies involving Big Tech companies.—
Dr. Timothy Scott,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
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The conflict is reshaping travel patterns, energy dependencies, living costs, trade routes and diplomatic alliances.—
Jim Tankersley Christina Goldbaum Meaghan Tobin W.J. Hennigan,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protectorates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protectorates. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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