1
as in plantations
a settlement in a new country or region
the early history of New York City when it was a Dutch colony
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of colonies
During this time, monarchs cluster together in packed colonies for warmth—in a good year, thousands of monarchs might rest on a single tree, creating a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colored wings.
—
Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
With the launch of the Culling Game in the aftermath, 10 colonies from across Japan are transformed into dens of curses as part of a plot orchestrated by the most wicked sorcerer in history, Noritoshi Kamo.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Thick colonies of the mussels already coat boats and piers and threaten water supplies for cities and farms.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
What To Do About Honeybee Swarms Honey bee colonies reproduce by swarming.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
The film takes place in the near future where a leading aerospace corporation has established colonies on various planets.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
The territory remained under Portuguese rule, apart from a brief Japanese occupation during the Second World War, until 1975, when a left-wing Portuguese government pledged to withdraw from all its colonies.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Beck also keeps three goats and a few colonies of honeybees.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Most of the territory felt a strong desire to maintain close connection to the monarchy and British Empire, but otherwise the colonies of British North America were far apart from one another geographically and psychologically.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
With the launch of the Culling Game in the aftermath, 10 colonies from across Japan are transformed into dens of curses as part of a plot orchestrated by the most wicked sorcerer in history, Noritoshi Kamo.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Thick colonies of the mussels already coat boats and piers and threaten water supplies for cities and farms.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
What To Do About Honeybee Swarms Honey bee colonies reproduce by swarming.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
The film takes place in the near future where a leading aerospace corporation has established colonies on various planets.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
The territory remained under Portuguese rule, apart from a brief Japanese occupation during the Second World War, until 1975, when a left-wing Portuguese government pledged to withdraw from all its colonies.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Beck also keeps three goats and a few colonies of honeybees.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Most of the territory felt a strong desire to maintain close connection to the monarchy and British Empire, but otherwise the colonies of British North America were far apart from one another geographically and psychologically.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonies
Noun
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The region was once dominated by slave plantations; during the two World Wars, Yemassee was best known for its train depot, which welcomed marine recruits on their way to basic training.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Historians believe the plate lunch evolved from the Japanese bento box — another form of takeaway eating — in the 1880s, when giant fruit and sugar companies owned huge plantations in Hawaii.—
Jake Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Organizations that adopt this mindset at scale in the coming years will be the true winners—in the marketplace, within their communities, and even on the battlefield.—
Phil Gilbert,
Fortune,
12 Nov. 2025
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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has highlighted Indigenous communities as key players in this year’s COP30 negotiations.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The new work identifies a vast network of secondary roads linking villas, farms and military outposts.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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Burns seems like someone who would fit in at Basgiath, or at one of the outposts on Navarre’s front lines.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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