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
In the years since then, Cordes and his team have followed nearly three hundred individual coral colonies within sixteen kilometres of the spill, recording minuscule changes in color, branch lengths, and physical integrity.
—
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Unlike shallow-water coral reefs, deep-sea coral colonies live in complete darkness.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Whitefield, one of the most influential public figures of the 18th century, and printer, thinker and founding father Franklin formed a bond rooted in shared concern for the future of the colonies.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
This is a passive strategy that works best when deployed early in the season, before wasps have established real colonies nearby.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
This film is about the government ordering the elderly to relocate to distant housing colonies to maximize economic productivity.
—Adam Bell
april 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
Iberians of South America …domination, only the Spanish and Portuguese were admitted to their South American colonies.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
More capital could help the company in its pursuit of its more ambitious goals, like colonies on the moon and eventually Mars.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
But Turner was suggesting that the heart of the nation’s history was not in England or in the American colonies along the eastern seaboard, but on the western frontier.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Unlike shallow-water coral reefs, deep-sea coral colonies live in complete darkness.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Whitefield, one of the most influential public figures of the 18th century, and printer, thinker and founding father Franklin formed a bond rooted in shared concern for the future of the colonies.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Apr. 2026
This is a passive strategy that works best when deployed early in the season, before wasps have established real colonies nearby.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
This film is about the government ordering the elderly to relocate to distant housing colonies to maximize economic productivity.
—Adam Bell
april 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
Iberians of South America …domination, only the Spanish and Portuguese were admitted to their South American colonies.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
More capital could help the company in its pursuit of its more ambitious goals, like colonies on the moon and eventually Mars.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
But Turner was suggesting that the heart of the nation’s history was not in England or in the American colonies along the eastern seaboard, but on the western frontier.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonies
Noun
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The storm’s heavy rains caused widespread flooding that killed at least 43 people and led to the destruction of banana plantations, sorghum, beans, cassava, coffee and other crops as well as the loss of livestock.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
When some of these planters defaulted, Jacob repossessed their plantations.—
Brenda Wineapple,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Many residents from rural areas have lived on the same land for generations, watching a cycle of outside companies profit from extracting the state’s resources — from timber to coal and oil and gas — only to pollute and abandon communities afterward.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The Interfaith Advisory Commission would help to coordinate religious services, address the needs of at-risk communities, and provide a platform for education and awareness on integrating different traditions.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Israeli media reported the decision also includes construction of electricity and water infrastructure to the outposts.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The weapons station, one of several installations in the region, including outposts in Fallbrook and Norco, supports the Navy’s Pacific fleet.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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