imperium

noun

im-ˈpir-ē-əm How to pronounce imperium (audio)
Definition of imperiumnext
as in dominion
controlling power or influence over others a nation whose economic imperium waned after the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 imperium Influenced by the revival of Roman law, the chancery of Frederick Barbarossa (German king and Holy Roman emperor from 1152 to 1190) adopted the term sacrum imperium as a counterblast to the universal claims of the church. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026 Everyone in the imperium knows the emperor is a nincompoop—and yet no one wants to go out on a limb to criticize him. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025 The Islamic Republic of Iran is motivated by a desire to bring about the end times and usher in an everlasting Islamic imperium. — Mike Coté, National Review, 20 July 2025 Nintendo has built a reputation on its willingness to catch fans off-guard, and a shutterbug adventure was the last thing anyone expected at the zenith of Pokemon’s imperium. — Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperium
  1. dominion
  2. domination
  3. sovereignty
  4. dominance
  5. supremacy
Noun
  • The twentieth century also saw Canada transition from British dominion to sovereign North American partner and ally.
    — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Faced with the dominion of the identical copy, some modern artists chose to celebrate it; others took a more critical, even antagonistic stance.
    — Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dominion
Noun
  • Milwaukee pulled off a four-game sweep of the Dodgers, capping their domination with a 6-4 victory at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But this assessment mistakes the consequences of domination for its causes.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of domination
Noun
  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a final appeal to voters considering a path toward independence in his home province of Alberta on Friday, warning that a referendum is a dangerous gamble at a time of growing threats to Canada’s sovereignty.
    — Rob Gillies, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The practical reason for this is to ensure that European customers have full sovereignty over software, algorithms, data, and hardware.
    — David Szondy October 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of sovereignty
Noun
  • Von Dohlen, for his part, criticized 28 years of Democratic dominance on the five-member Commissioners Court, blaming county leadership for billions of dollars in debt.
    — Katie Bartlett, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Dior‘s dominance in the brand ranking was largely thanks to its creative director Jonathan Anderson, whose name appeared in 65 percent of Dior’s AI mentions, with 37 percent of those mentions pointed to a distinct identity for the house.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominance
Noun
  • China and the United States are engaged in a high-stakes battle for AI supremacy.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Ternus, a product engineering savant, has been establishing himself by rolling out new devices meant to cement Apple’s hardware supremacy, most notably the company’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, which Ternus unveiled in September.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of supremacy

Browse Nearby Words

imperishable
imperium
imperiums
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Cite this Entry

“Imperium.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperium. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on imperium

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about imperium

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