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 1774 Articles of Association, which urged colonists to boycott British goods.
—
Linh Tat, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
Portugal and Germany in Southern Africa For much of the 19th century, Portuguese colonists in Angola and Mozambique were fewer in number and weaker in authority than those in the interior of South Africa.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The aiyi have sent an emissary to Scythia, who will determine whether the colonists deserve to survive.
—Stephanie Burt, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
The early colonists were very much anti-idol worshippers and even modern Catholics, as Vice President Vance surely knows, have long been criticized by their Protestant counterparts for a love of statuary, reliquaries and other iconography that some have argued fall into idolatry.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The colonists awoke from their dream of lucrative plantations to find churches in ashes and molasses cauldrons rusting in the grass.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
The Quebec Act, which protected Catholicism in neighboring Quebec, was seen by some colonists as a threat and is reflected in grievances in the Declaration of Independence.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
At that time, a warship required about 30 days to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and be in position to lob a few cannonballs at Boston or Philadelphia, possibly killing a few colonists.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Virginia is recognized as the birthplace of American wine, since colonists attempted the craft in the early 17th century.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Linh Tat, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026
Portugal and Germany in Southern Africa For much of the 19th century, Portuguese colonists in Angola and Mozambique were fewer in number and weaker in authority than those in the interior of South Africa.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The aiyi have sent an emissary to Scythia, who will determine whether the colonists deserve to survive.
—Stephanie Burt, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
The early colonists were very much anti-idol worshippers and even modern Catholics, as Vice President Vance surely knows, have long been criticized by their Protestant counterparts for a love of statuary, reliquaries and other iconography that some have argued fall into idolatry.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The colonists awoke from their dream of lucrative plantations to find churches in ashes and molasses cauldrons rusting in the grass.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
The Quebec Act, which protected Catholicism in neighboring Quebec, was seen by some colonists as a threat and is reflected in grievances in the Declaration of Independence.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
At that time, a warship required about 30 days to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and be in position to lob a few cannonballs at Boston or Philadelphia, possibly killing a few colonists.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Virginia is recognized as the birthplace of American wine, since colonists attempted the craft in the early 17th century.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonists
Noun
-
At least 35 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers across the territory in 2026.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Creeping Charlie was first introduced by European settlers as a groundcover.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Afrika Bambaataa, a man widely considered one of the main pioneers of hip-hop, died Thursday of prostate cancer in Pennsylvania, according to his lawyer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Afrika Bambaataa, a man widely considered one of the main pioneers of hip-hop, died in Pennsylvania of prostate cancer on Thursday, according to his lawyer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonists. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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