Thesaurus results for COLONIST

colonist

noun

ˈkä-lə-nist

Definition of colonist

as in settler

a person who settles in a new region over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves

Synonyms & Similar 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 colonist European colonists in Australia encountered a suite of venomous snakes just as fearsome as those of the Libyan desert. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026 Kimmel also portrayed a colonist and took a satirical swipe at the situation. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026 For example, Indigenous people shared their knowledge of making tea from local plants and herbs with colonists. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 Anticipation for the milestone holiday has been building for much of the year, serving as an opportunity for Americans to reflect on their complicated history as onetime colonists of an empire who became a superpower of their own. — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for colonist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonist

Noun

Since October 2023, the number and severity of settler attacks have skyrocketed, including arson and other destruction of property, the killing of livestock, violent assaults and murder, taking place almost every day.

— Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces a fight for political survival in elections in October after angering his fellow West Bank settlers by voting not to punish ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse to serve in the military.

— Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of settler

Noun

Hanging from the ceiling is a model of the Wright brothers’ first production airplane — the aviation pioneers were from nearby Dayton and an inspiration for Armstrong.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Nobu was one of the pioneers in promoting the concept of family sharing at dinner, and the menu encourages guests to do so.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of pioneer

Noun

Ideally located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in the Taskers Pond neighborhood, a handsome colonial has just come on the market.

— James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
And that is sticking with us generation after generation, 50 years after our independence [in 1975 from Portuguese colonial rule].

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of colonial

Browse Nearby Words

colonies

colonist

colonists

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Colonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonist. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of colonist

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on colonist

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pedagogical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes