sovereignty

noun

ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē 
variants also sovranty
Definition of sovereignty
1
as in autonomy
the state of being free from the control or power of another upon leaving home she felt that she had achieved sovereignty for the first time in her life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nation
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government as parts of the same sovereignty, the states should not enact laws intended to harm one another economically

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dominion
controlling power or influence over others the gradual sovereignty of English as the language of international communication

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sovereignty Spain has endorsed the plan and both France and the US have recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over the region. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026 Syria’s Foreign Ministry said several civilians were injured and called the strike a flagrant violation of the country’s sovereignty. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026 This is the moment enterprise AI sovereignty stops being a theoretical governance debate and becomes a practical survival skill. — Pawel Rzeszucinski, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 That's considered a sensitive and contested operating area, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service, because multiple Asian governments, including China, claim sovereignty over parts of it. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sovereignty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sovereignty
  1. autonomy
  2. nation
  3. dominion
  4. independence
  5. state
  6. supremacy
  7. freedom
  8. country
Noun
  • Explore the distinctive voices who use the Power of No to create focus, quality, autonomy and build a life of remarkable success.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Surfacing bridging content that spans political lines while speaking to what the user values could be a promising direction for fostering both user autonomy and constructive conversation.
    — Farnaz Jahanbakhsh, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of autonomy
Noun
  • And since January, nearly 900 asylum claimants have been sent back to the US after being deemed ineligible under the Safe Third Country Agreement between the two nations, Cameron said.
    — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The gold mine collapse was the latest mining disaster in the mineral-rich Central African nation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • When Heilmann arrived in New York in 1968, minimalism, post-minimalism, and Conceptual art were turning the city into one enormous male dominion.
    — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The mandate was awarded to Great Britain but was to be exercised by South Africa (then a dominion within the British Empire).
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of dominion
Noun
  • The program uses culinary education to build confidence, independence, creativity and life skills while introducing students to potential careers in the culinary arts.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Reiterating its 2019 call for Kavala’s release, the court declared his life-without-parole conviction null and void and found multiple violations of fundamental rights and judicial independence guarantees.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of independence
Noun
  • Speaking to the state Transportation Commission last week in San Diego, Kosup stressed that another reason for the fenders is that Navy ships have also gotten larger since the bridge opened.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • However, the threat of taking California to the Supreme Court may be enough to bring the state’s AG Rob Bonta back to the bargaining table.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of state
Noun
  • Pixel is where Google introduced, promoted, and established its supremacy in mobile artificial intelligence, first supported by cloud computing and later bringing more functionality to be processed locally.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • DeRozan, a six-time All-Star, could help the Nuggets challenge the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder for Western Conference supremacy next season.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of supremacy
Noun
  • The Council of Urban Professionals' 5th Annual MV Summit celebrated thought leadership in AI, financial freedom, luxury, and community building.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In a blow to press freedoms within the US military, the Pentagon has forced out several top staffers at Stars and Stripes, the military publication with a long record of editorial independence.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of freedom
Noun
  • Takaichi's remark crossed what China considers a red line in its relations with other countries about Taiwan, which is a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Now, a country shaped in part by that migration is accepting people the US wants to remove.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of country

Browse Nearby Words

sovereignties
sovereignty
Sovietism
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Cite this Entry

“Sovereignty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sovereignty. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sovereignty

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sovereignty

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