as in dominion
controlling power or influence over others
a nation whose economic imperium waned after the war
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Recent Examples of imperium
But our failure to anticipate this most recent spark of dissent is perhaps more understandable; after all, as Xi’s one-party Leninist imperium has gathered momentum, most foreign journalists have been expelled from China.
—
Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2022
At a time when Russia, weakened by its Ukrainian misadventure, risks becoming a satellite state of a rising Chinese imperium, reliance on Russia makes even less sense in the future.
—Shashi Tharoor, Foreign Affairs, 27 Apr. 2022
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Playing that particular Neil Young tune to represent the American imperium was an insidious selection.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2024
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s extraordinary new demands and threats, following his military buildup on the borders of Ukraine, has brought NATO back to basics — containing Russian power and imperium.
—New York Times, 14 Jan. 2022
But unlike the familiar realm of the Caesars, this imperium doesn’t govern only humans: Talking beasts also live as citizens in the empire.
—Liz Braswell, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2023
Many people in what was formerly East Germany, part of the Soviet imperium until shortly before German unification in 1990, look favorably on Moscow.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2022
At a time when Russia, weakened by its Ukrainian misadventure, risks becoming a satellite state of a rising Chinese imperium, reliance on Russia makes even less sense in the future.
—Shashi Tharoor, Foreign Affairs, 27 Apr. 2022
Even the Commonwealth—long a convenient way to sustain a more symbolic form of cultural imperium—has lost much of its meaning.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2023
Playing that particular Neil Young tune to represent the American imperium was an insidious selection.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 May 2024
Poland, through a protest movement, led the liberation of Europe from the Soviet imperium, culminating with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
But Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s extraordinary new demands and threats, following his military buildup on the borders of Ukraine, has brought NATO back to basics — containing Russian power and imperium.
—New York Times, 14 Jan. 2022
But unlike the familiar realm of the Caesars, this imperium doesn’t govern only humans: Talking beasts also live as citizens in the empire.
—Liz Braswell, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2023
Many people in what was formerly East Germany, part of the Soviet imperium until shortly before German unification in 1990, look favorably on Moscow.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperium
Noun
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Dramatically, the buildup to this state of unchecked dominion is more taut than the fallout, largely because Grabowsky’s fine, watchful performance contributes much of the tension as Rakel’s sheer powerlessness begins to dawn on her.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2025
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Urinetown, a defiantly scatological show that premiered on Broadway in 2001, is about a community in the throes of a drought where, thanks to the dominion of the Urine Good Company over the water supply, citizens must pay for the privilege of peeing.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by federal employment, project allocations and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Dua Lipa bested Beyoncé protégées Chloe x Halle, musical prodigy H.E.R., and country phenom Luke Combs, and has since had a slow burn toward pop domination.—
Marcus Jones,
EW.com,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
However, despite its success, the play drew increasing criticism for its dominance.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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When the Sony and Zee Entertainment Enterprises merger collapsed under the weight of regulatory scrutiny, the pathway became even clearer for the new kid on the block to assert dominance.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland was briefly contested in an international court by Norway in the 1930s, but Norway lost the case and withdrew its claims.—
Adam Price,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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First, both nations could pass a transnational agreement to form a union, like the European Union, meaning each country retains sovereignty and separate citizenship, but allows for free movement, and possibly a common market and defense.—
Talib Visram,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Stargate, the $500 billion effort to secure American AI supremacy for perpetuity backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SoftBank founder Masa Son, among others, will require a gargantuan amount of energy to power it.—
David Jeans,
Forbes,
5 Feb. 2025
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McConnell insists that revisionist powers can be contained only through American military supremacy.—
Reid Smith,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near imperium
Cite this Entry
“Imperium.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperium. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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