as in nations
a form of political organization in which a group of people who share the same history, traditions, or language live in a particular area under one government
the rise of European nation-states in the thirteenth century
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Recent Examples of nation-states
The modern Zionist political movement began in the late 19th century and gave political expression to our connection to the land of Israel in a modern world shaped by nation-states.
—
Elad Strohmayer, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
While these capabilities are intended to help companies detect and fix flaws, they could also be weaponized by hackers, including nation-states, to find and exploit vulnerabilities.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
These brave souls forged new frontiers for nation-states and planted the right flag for posterity.
—S.c. Stuart, PC Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, and other post-war multilateral institutions are struggling for relevance as nation-states increasingly abandon the pursuit of the common good.
—Time, 26 Feb. 2026
If the most fervent believers are correct, AI might one day challenge the power and sovereignty of nation-states.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
With vehicles from nation-states like Russia and China, as well as private companies like Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Arianespace and others, launch costs are no longer prohibitive.
—Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
Srinivasan has also published a book arguing that such privatized, business-friendly enclaves will eventually surpass nation-states.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
Elad Strohmayer, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
While these capabilities are intended to help companies detect and fix flaws, they could also be weaponized by hackers, including nation-states, to find and exploit vulnerabilities.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
These brave souls forged new frontiers for nation-states and planted the right flag for posterity.
—S.c. Stuart, PC Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, and other post-war multilateral institutions are struggling for relevance as nation-states increasingly abandon the pursuit of the common good.
—Time, 26 Feb. 2026
If the most fervent believers are correct, AI might one day challenge the power and sovereignty of nation-states.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
With vehicles from nation-states like Russia and China, as well as private companies like Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Arianespace and others, launch costs are no longer prohibitive.
—Big Think, 24 Feb. 2026
Srinivasan has also published a book arguing that such privatized, business-friendly enclaves will eventually surpass nation-states.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-states
Noun
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In it, the king is expected to discuss the United Kingdom’s relationship with the United States over the last 250 years and how the two nations have worked together to achievements in science, economics, innovation, international security and other fields.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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By March, Ukraine had dispatched more than two hundred military experts to help Persian Gulf nations defend against Iranian drone attacks.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All kingdoms crumble, though, and after a decade-plus reign, the cupcake was left behind—an aging monarch overthrown by Dominique Ansel’s cronut, and the neophilic nature of social media feeds.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
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Let’s run through the whole sordid inventory of critters who have had unusual encounters with Kennedy—including denizens of several different animal kingdoms.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gerontocracy has always thrived in undemocratic places—Communist people’s republics, Gulf monarchies—where only death could pry power from the ruling elders.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
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The primary strategic target of the declaration was the Bourbon monarchies of France and Spain, Britain’s chief rivals.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The guys who have literally created their entire media empires around being online and around the clip ecosystem, livestreaming, et cetera?—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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Syracuse began as an ancient Greek settlement nearly 3,000 years ago, and its beauty has beckoned both travelers and empires for centuries (Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Norman, to name a few).—
Michele Becker,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nation-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-states. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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