state 1 of 2

noun

ˈstāt How to pronounce state (audio)
Definition of statenext
1
as in nation
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government the British monarch is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of the government

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2
as in dignity
high position within society Sir Thomas More was accorded an execution befitting his state: a beheading and not the hanging that common criminals received

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

state

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to say
to convey in appropriate or telling terms please state the vehicle's mechanical problem as clearly and briefly as possible

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2
as in to utter
to express (a thought or emotion) in words "I believe this theory is wrong," she stated

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3
as in to voice
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) everyone has a right to state his or her opinion, no matter how unpopular it may be

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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 state
Noun
In large computations, many qubits must wait between operations, during which their quantum states can decay. — Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 After a wave of restaurant closures struck West Midtown in late 2024 and early 2025, theories on the state of the area’s restaurant scene proliferated. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
Organizers signed a police document stating that the protest would remain stationary due to the risk of violence. — Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026 Cofer is criticizing Guerra’s absence from the vote and is asking him to publicly state his position on the partnership. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for state
  1. nation
  2. dignity
  3. say
  4. utter
  5. voice
  6. country
  7. rank
  8. express
Noun
  • Sectarian tensions and the disrupting force of the Cold War plunged the Middle Eastern nation into decades of armed conflict, with a chilling effect on daily life.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • And the last independent country in that land before modern Israel, the one Rome conquered, was--wait for it--a Jewish nation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • Under Porter's direction, the ensemble mines every beat for honest friction, turning a century-old battle over dignity and artistic ownership into an electrifying stage presence.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Absurd and darkly humorous drama, offering an unconventional take on aging, loneliness and human dignity.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of dignity
Verb
  • What employers are doing Kostka says there have recently been fewer health insurers in her area to choose from.
    — Alana Semuels, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Hamilton, in response, said that his church changed its policies in response to the scandal and eventually turned the matter over to police.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of say
Verb
  • All of which is to say, some of the ’90s slang collected by the students at UCLA may very well have been uttered by Marymount students.
    — Jonathan Van Meter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Nothing was uttered on today’s call in the specific realm of talent relationships about former CCO Bajaria.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of utter
Verb
  • Mental health experts have voiced concerns about chatbots’ sycophancy, lack of clinical nuance, and ability to reinforce delusional beliefs.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Trump’s discordant message with one of the top concerns voters are voicing ahead of the midterm elections has seemed heightened by his fixation on beautifying Washington and building a large ballroom at the White House.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of voice
Noun
  • On foreign policy, Lula has worked to boost the political influence of countries in the Global South as a founding member of the BRICS group, a grouping of major emerging economies that includes Brazil, China, Russia, India and South Africa.
    — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Elon Musk, who has spent more than four hundred million dollars on Republican campaigns this election cycle, slowed Ukraine’s access to his Starshield satellite network, leaving that country more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • This season is really no different, with many teams filling the top ranks in the nation.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Horned Frogs rank last in sacks allowed, while West Virginia ranks fourth in the Big 12 in sacks.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of rank
Verb
  • Gyurov has often expressed firm support for Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement with Kyiv during his premiership.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • For weeks, head coach Andy Reid has expressed confidence in Butker.
    — Sam McDowell October 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of express

Browse Nearby Words

stasis
state
state's evidence
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Cite this Entry

“State.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/state. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about state

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