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
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 colonies
The beehive is expected to house two additional bee colonies, adding to the two other colonies that produce honey for the White House.
—
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Two and a half centuries after the American colonies declared independence from Britain under King George III, his descendant King Charles III lands in Washington Monday with trans-Atlantic ties under strain and security in the spotlight.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
More than two centuries after the 13 colonies rebelled against King George III and sent his redcoats packing, a direct descendant of that monarch will arrive Monday in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from British rule.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Former French colonies and once close Western partners, these countries have since distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and continue to face persistent jihadist insurgencies.
—Jewel Bright, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
The queen-worthy new hive, hand-crafted by a local Virginia artisan in the image of the White House, will add two new bee colonies to the property's existing two.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
What To Do About Honeybee Swarms Honey bee colonies reproduce by swarming.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
By the time the colonies were created, people in all 13 colonies produced butter.
—Karla Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
The discoveries of such large bee colonies are welcome news amid ongoing efforts to protect the insects, which have a positive impact on the environment, biodiversity and food security, per the UN Environment Programme.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Two and a half centuries after the American colonies declared independence from Britain under King George III, his descendant King Charles III lands in Washington Monday with trans-Atlantic ties under strain and security in the spotlight.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
More than two centuries after the 13 colonies rebelled against King George III and sent his redcoats packing, a direct descendant of that monarch will arrive Monday in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from British rule.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Former French colonies and once close Western partners, these countries have since distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and continue to face persistent jihadist insurgencies.
—Jewel Bright, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026
The queen-worthy new hive, hand-crafted by a local Virginia artisan in the image of the White House, will add two new bee colonies to the property's existing two.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
What To Do About Honeybee Swarms Honey bee colonies reproduce by swarming.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
By the time the colonies were created, people in all 13 colonies produced butter.
—Karla Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
The discoveries of such large bee colonies are welcome news amid ongoing efforts to protect the insects, which have a positive impact on the environment, biodiversity and food security, per the UN Environment Programme.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonies
Noun
-
But these high-yield plantations are high risk and can be surprisingly fragile.—
John Parker,
The Conversation,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The fungicide, also known as DBCP, became notorious decades ago when male workers on Latin American banana plantations became sterile after the chemical was absorbed into their skin.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.—
Sarah Brumfield,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
From coastal towns to charming inland cities and mountain communities, the Southeast draws retirees with a lower cost of living, access to quality healthcare, a warm climate, and an excellent quality of life.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The venue is part of an ecosystem of three museums grouped under the Long Museum, a private art museum founded by husband-and-wife art collectors Liu Yiqian and Wang Wei, which includes the Long Museum Pudong and the Long Museum Chongqing outposts.—
Sandra Salibian for WWD,
ARTnews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
By 2036, the agency aims to sustain a continuous human presence through habitable outposts capable of supporting four-person crews for month-long stays.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
