vassal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Being a happy vassal is one thing. Being a miserable slave is something else,” Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

According to the polling expert, Mr Lee, "a growing portion of the public now believes China wants to turn South Korea into some kind of vassal state".

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2025

“In southern India, the threat of being reduced to a vassal state is a serious problem,” said Neelakantan, the political analyst.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024

Shaipov said Muscovy inherited its political culture not from Europe, but from the Mongol Empire of which it had long been a vassal.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2023

Mostly the former; it had been a costly war despite the valiant predictions of the Pentagon and its smug scientific vassal, the Rand Corporation—which had, in fact, existed not far from this spot.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick