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
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 colonists
Half the contestants would be the colonists; the others, the island’s indigenous inhabitants.
—
Literary Hub, 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 Articles of Association of 1774 was signed by all 53 delegates urging colonists to boycott British goods, marking the Continental Congress's first protest against Britain.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
In the 1700s, Dutch settlers arrived at Kalk Bay, and it was later occupied by British colonists who turned it into a major whaling center.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
Historians believe that the attack killed at least 400 colonists and soldiers, or about 1 in 6 Spaniards in New Mexico.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Baskets were a ubiquitous part of Chumash life before the colonists came.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Literary Hub, 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 Articles of Association of 1774 was signed by all 53 delegates urging colonists to boycott British goods, marking the Continental Congress's first protest against Britain.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
In the 1700s, Dutch settlers arrived at Kalk Bay, and it was later occupied by British colonists who turned it into a major whaling center.
—Kate Bartlett, NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
Historians believe that the attack killed at least 400 colonists and soldiers, or about 1 in 6 Spaniards in New Mexico.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Baskets were a ubiquitous part of Chumash life before the colonists came.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonists
Noun
-
The game eventually made its way to New England through English settlers, Moore explains.—
Jaclyn Diaz,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The settlers spoke a Polynesian language, practiced Polynesian customs, and left descendants who continue to.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Salsa segments paid homage to icons like Héctor Lavoe and the Fania All-Stars, while reggaetón moments honored pioneers such as Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, and Tego Calderón.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Francesco Iorio, founder of Augmenta and one of the pioneers of generative design at Autodesk, works in an industry where visibility actively undermines trust.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonists. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
