Definition of cosmopolisnext
as in city
a thickly settled, highly populated area a sprawling cosmopolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their fortune

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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 cosmopolis While Istanbul and Cappadocia are more popular with tourists to Turkey, don't miss the chance to explore Izmir, which was once the country's most thriving cosmopolis. — Lilit Marcus, CNN, 8 Oct. 2022 Istanbul is a cosmopolis unlike any other—where the remains of former empires, the cultural influences of multi-ethnic communities, and contemporary Turkish identity all exist in delicate harmony. — Feride Yalav-Heckeroth, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2022 On the Volga a quasi-capital rose at Sarai, established by Batu around 1250, and grew into a cosmopolis of artisans, farmers, and merchants from as far away as Syria, Egypt, even Greece—so many that a New Sarai was founded upriver. — Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021 For decades a symbol of all that was dead and dysfunctional in the ever-expanding cosmopolis, the river is undergoing its own rehabilitation, shedding some of its visible concrete. — Alexandra Marshall, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cosmopolis
Noun
  • As the industrial age took hold, geometry continued to show force in the colonial infantries abroad and through isomorphic police squadrons that fit neatly into modernizing city blocks patrolled back home.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Other offerings include hydrating and volumizing shampoo and conditioner duos; a Deep Moisture Repair Hair Mask; a SahaScalp purifying scrub, and a recent trio of hair and body fragrance mists inspired by different Indian cities and states.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Atlanta, the sprawling southern metropolis, is used to serving as a temporary home for the rare black-and-white bears.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps most surprising, though, the top 10 favors big, bustling metropolises rather than the sunny coastal cities or small towns that might first come to mind when planning a romantic trip.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The utility this weekend also de-energized lines around a brush fire that broke out Saturday, prompting evacuation orders several miles south of Lahaina town, the site of the 2023 deadly fires.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Tight, familial church communities, huddled in isolated villages and small towns; people held in place; a striking lack of privacy and liberty.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cosmopolis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cosmopolis. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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