suzerain

noun

Definition of suzerainnext
as in emperor

Related Words

Relevance

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 suzerain Citizens of countries historically exploited by the West face higher financial and bureaucratic hurdles to access facilities and resources concentrated in their former suzerain. — WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 In buttressing Lukashenko’s regime, Russia became Belarus’s outright suzerain. — Casey Michel, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2022 Most Somalilanders have known nothing but self-rule and would never consent to reintegrate with their bloody, anarchic suzerain. — The Economist, 8 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suzerain
  1. emperor
  2. prince
  3. king
  4. satrap
  5. sultan
  6. empress
  7. princess
  8. sovereign
Noun
  • Past media surveys have shown that more than 80% of Japanese respondents favored a female emperor.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The male-only succession rule means the line must move to the emperor’s younger brother Akishino, then to his 20-year-old nephew Prince Hisahito.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of emperor
Noun
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The crown prince revealed a bold ambition to transform the kingdom, and the region, by 2030.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of prince
Noun
  • Crowning yourself king of the hyper-SUV world requires more than just a legendary badge.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The coast could be particularly hammered if the exceptionally high king tides coincide with strong winter storms.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of king
Noun
  • The ranks of the leadership are staffed, in large measure, with satraps and mediocrities.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • The quick collapse of the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satraps unsettled both nations.
    — Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Definition of satrap
Noun
  • As the British royal family hosted the sultan of Oman and members of the Omani royal family for a formal state banquet at Windsor Castle, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Kate’s yellow cutout cape gown almost led to a fashion mishap.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Yogyakarta is a rare thing, a sultan’s kingdom inside of a country that is otherwise a republic.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sultan
Noun
  • Sisi is forced to decide whether to follow her heart or remain a sincere empress to her people.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Eugénie, empress of the French and wife of Napoleon III, received it in 1856 for her piety and philanthropy.
    — Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of empress
Noun
  • The changes include allowing the adoption of distant male relatives raised as commoners to become royals and father future heirs, and letting princesses keep their royal status after marrying commoners.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Previously, princesses who marry a commoner had to renounce their royal status and leave the royal family.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of princess
Noun
  • The Crown Estate is an independent company established by Parliament to manage a vast portfolio of properties throughout the United Kingdom that is nominally owned by the sovereign during his lifetime but is operated for the benefit of taxpayers.
    — Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Only three African sovereigns hold investment grade ratings, according to a background note from the AU’s African Peer Review Mechanism (ARPM).
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sovereign

Browse Nearby Words

SUVs
suzerain
suzerains
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suzerain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suzerain. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All