COLONIAL Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

colonial 1 of 2

adjective

kə-ˈlō-nē-əl

Definition of colonial

as in social

tending to group with others of the same kind colonial organisms

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

colonial

2 of 2

noun

as in settler

a person who settles in a new region European colonials who built coffee plantations in East Africa

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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 colonial

Adjective

Rote learning, repetitive writing, the curse of a colonial education. — Amitava Kumar, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026 Despite other colonial loot being returned over the decades, the diamond men literally died for still sits in the Jewel House in the Tower of London. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

That equity is not merely associated with chattel slavery, but also with African objects that were stolen during European colonial rule. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026 Burbank’s environmental determinism was tangled with a settler-colonial impulse to imbue the wild landscape with Western ideals of control and organization to not only manage but also improve populations, in both plants and humans. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for colonial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonial

Adjective

Picking up a group tab, joining a cause, or saying yes to a social plan could stretch your budget, even if your generosity is sincere.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
As with so many social and cultural issues in Iran, the wearing of the hijab seems to some a misplaced priority at a time of conflict and economic crisis.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of social

Noun

Venture just beyond downtown to Mount Moriah Cemetery, where Calamity Jane lies buried next to Wild Bill Hickok; paths through the pines lead to the graves of pioneers and other Wild West figures, like Seth Bullock.

— Jacqueline Kehoe, Midwest Living, 19 Aug. 2026
New York — Columbia House, a pioneer of subscription music before streaming, is shutting down after seven decades in business.

— Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of pioneer

Noun

What happened to the colonists remains unknown, but archaeological finds—including otherwise anachronistic English artifacts on Hatteras Island—give some support to White’s theory that at least some of the colonists relocated willingly.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
In the sketch, Washington’s announcement prompts a skeptical colonist (David) to imagine a future leader who ignores the Constitution, uses the presidency for personal gain and seeks to remain in power.

— Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of colonist

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Colonel Blimp

colonial

colonials

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Style

“Colonial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonial. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of colonial

adjective

noun

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