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 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
This practice outraged the American colonists, who believed that general warrants enabled tyranny by empowering officers to enter homes and businesses at will.
—Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hopis and Zunis were part of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, where Spanish colonists and priests were driven out of the pueblos of New Mexico and northeastern Arizona.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
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
This practice outraged the American colonists, who believed that general warrants enabled tyranny by empowering officers to enter homes and businesses at will.
—Amanda Cats-Baril, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hopis and Zunis were part of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, where Spanish colonists and priests were driven out of the pueblos of New Mexico and northeastern Arizona.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonists
Noun
-
Most families here are descendants of settlers from Ireland and England who came in pursuit of cod 300-plus years ago.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
These white settlers came in successive waves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For the record, Burleson does not credit himself with popularizing the format, citing Chris Klemens and Billy Eichner as pioneers.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Team officials from the 49ers and the Rams have embraced being pioneers in Australia.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonists. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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