as in settlers
a person who settles in a new region
over time the colonists began to sense that they were becoming a people unto themselves
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Recent Examples of colonists
The American colonists’ decision to frame their rebellion as a quarrel with a man rather than a system was brilliant from a public-relations standpoint, if not exactly honest.
—
The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
The colonists were subject to arbitrary taxation, warrantless searches, standing armies in their homes, and other evils at the hands of the crown.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
And farther off, toward the mountains, the Cimarronaje—the settlements of the Black Seminoles and Mascogos who, on escaping slavery, became colonists of a territory that asked for their protection in exchange for ownership.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
From the days of colonists and pirates to the more modern era (of, say, bankers and lawyers servicing offshore corporations), its touristic charms have gone largely unappreciated.
—John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Despite this, the edition offered by Goldin Auction was originally printed and distributed so that colonists could read the Second Continental Congress’ argument for separating from Great Britain in July 1776.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
Historically, it was meant to remedy something that was true in England, where the colonists came from, which was that the king or those empowered by the king could invade people’s homes at will.
—John E. Jones, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
If these nanotubes are already there, future lunar colonists might not need to bring expensive sensors or battery components from Earth.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026
Those colonists declared that the land was now theirs.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
The colonists were subject to arbitrary taxation, warrantless searches, standing armies in their homes, and other evils at the hands of the crown.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
And farther off, toward the mountains, the Cimarronaje—the settlements of the Black Seminoles and Mascogos who, on escaping slavery, became colonists of a territory that asked for their protection in exchange for ownership.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
From the days of colonists and pirates to the more modern era (of, say, bankers and lawyers servicing offshore corporations), its touristic charms have gone largely unappreciated.
—John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Despite this, the edition offered by Goldin Auction was originally printed and distributed so that colonists could read the Second Continental Congress’ argument for separating from Great Britain in July 1776.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2026
Historically, it was meant to remedy something that was true in England, where the colonists came from, which was that the king or those empowered by the king could invade people’s homes at will.
—John E. Jones, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
If these nanotubes are already there, future lunar colonists might not need to bring expensive sensors or battery components from Earth.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026
Those colonists declared that the land was now theirs.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonists
Noun
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Living-history interpreters dressed in period garb will describe and demonstrate techniques used by both European settlers and indigenous peoples in our area during the 18th and 19th centuries.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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Levi was among the Israeli settlers sanctioned by the United States and other Western countries over allegations of violence toward Palestinians in 2024.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Editor's Favorites The creators of Miss Jessie’s are pioneers of the natural hair movement.—
Kieaundria Bellamy,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Mustaine is revered as one of the pioneers of thrash metal, a subgenre that combines the breakneck velocity of early American hardcore bands such as Circle Jerks and Misfits with the precision and power of British metal groups like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.—
Jon Wiederhorn,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonists. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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