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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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 family also owned coffee plantations, a rice mill and a private bank that financed the family’s operations.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated April 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
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Billy hails from a herd in Malaysia that was culled to clear land for palm and rubber plantations, according to the zoo.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Outside the courtroom, the case is already having an impact — especially in South Florida's immigrant communities.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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On this postcard-perfect corner of Canada’s northeastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador that’s slammed by wind and waves, cod-fishing communities hold on to their distinctive settler history.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For years, France has maintained its position as the largest market for the fast food giant outside the US with about 1,590 outposts.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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The concept, built by chef Kian Samyani around the kebab houses of Tehran, has outposts in Doha, Dubai, and Los Angeles.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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