1
2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
tensions mounted until the people rose up in rebellion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in family
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor
introduced my new boyfriend to my people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants
a science-fiction novel about a mission to people Mars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of people
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
Turkey has been further enhancing its border defenses to be able to respond to a potential influx of people fleeing unrest after mass antigovernment protests in Iran were met by a brutal crackdown in January that left thousands dead.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Sadie Stein, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Colonies founded by charters to private companies and peopled by restless dreamers gave us an entrepreneurial spirit from the outset.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for people
Plural noun
Its hardware includes Series Elastic Actuators and a range of sensors that enable safe physical interaction with people while maintaining balance and precision.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Mar. 2026
Turkey has been further enhancing its border defenses to be able to respond to a potential influx of people fleeing unrest after mass antigovernment protests in Iran were met by a brutal crackdown in January that left thousands dead.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
The mountains are peopled with guides, trail keepers and fellow travelers, as well as those who have died on their treks when the weather turned.
—Sadie Stein, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Colonies founded by charters to private companies and peopled by restless dreamers gave us an entrepreneurial spirit from the outset.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for people
Recent Examples of Synonyms for people
Verb
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However, how many of them actually come to be inhabited remains a great unknown, with deeper questions — like how many of them turn into technologically advanced civilizations — requiring us to estimate further unknowns atop them.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2026
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Her celestial bodies don’t inhabit the night sky, but rather the silver screen—and yet, reading them has become as necessary in 2026 as observing the Milky Way was to Galileo in the 1600s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nominally designed as a spaceport, Lego aliens and spaceships populate the area.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
As in the real world, they’re populated by personalities that don’t neatly divide along a good-evil binary but are, instead, flawed yet lovable—to some other lovably flawed character, at least.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“People.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/people. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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