vassal

It is more of a vassal, or protectorate, or a colony.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 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

Sawai was magnificent for the way she deftly handled her character’s many facets — vassal, translator, warrior, lover, avenger.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2024

Fealty in medieval Europe was an oath of fidelity in which the vassal pledged not to harm his lord or damage to his property.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 12, 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

I’ll note that the demon is a more honest and fair negotiator than his vassals, who occasionally cheat and are punished in exactly the way you’re hoping to see.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

Because of our past forays, these knights have long been vassals without lords.

From New York Times ● Jun. 18, 2024

The vassals have a duty to give honest advice, and their advice is that this course of action is madness.

From New York Times ● Apr. 9, 2024

“But if you read between the lines, that’s what it means—these were vassals, probably of Tikal directly and Teotihuacán indirectly.”

From National Geographic ● Jan. 26, 2024

Instead, in the by-now familiar hegemonic pattern, they tried to force the rulers of the vanquished state to become their vassals.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann