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
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Recent Examples of colonists
Their pacifism later brings them in direct conflict with the colonists gearing up to fight the British.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
The over-the-top propaganda that leads the game off suggests the Earth Directorate is here to protect colonists from out-of-control corporations and tyrannical governments.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
Salt Cay’s biggest industry (salt production) began in the late 1600s, when British colonists from Bermuda developed the salinas (salt ponds) and the infrastructure.
—Peter Kelly, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025
Kruger was determined to establish a strong republic controlled by Afrikaners [South Africans descended from Dutch colonists].
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025
Since the condition of the Royal Navy was of prime importance to the British Parliament, during the colonial era that body passed several acts that sought to entice or compel colonists in British North America to produce naval stores for the benefit of the mother country.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
The Robinsons, a family of space colonists leave an over-populated Earth in search of a new world.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recommended for European travelers and colonists heading to the East in the late 1800s, quinine was initially added to various alcoholic beverages to mask its bitterness.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
The colonists pleged to remain loyal to Bavaria and the German language and their traditons.
—Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2024
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
The over-the-top propaganda that leads the game off suggests the Earth Directorate is here to protect colonists from out-of-control corporations and tyrannical governments.
—Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025
Salt Cay’s biggest industry (salt production) began in the late 1600s, when British colonists from Bermuda developed the salinas (salt ponds) and the infrastructure.
—Peter Kelly, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025
Kruger was determined to establish a strong republic controlled by Afrikaners [South Africans descended from Dutch colonists].
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025
Since the condition of the Royal Navy was of prime importance to the British Parliament, during the colonial era that body passed several acts that sought to entice or compel colonists in British North America to produce naval stores for the benefit of the mother country.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
The Robinsons, a family of space colonists leave an over-populated Earth in search of a new world.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recommended for European travelers and colonists heading to the East in the late 1800s, quinine was initially added to various alcoholic beverages to mask its bitterness.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024
The colonists pleged to remain loyal to Bavaria and the German language and their traditons.
—Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonists
Noun
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Even as liberal-seeming Amir invites Yusuf to join the Muslim Association, an informal organization of male Arab landowners, Yusuf’s father is killed in a night-time confrontation with the settlers.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
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Native Americans, early settlers, some of our Founding Fathers and today’s small-town folk have harvested and relished pawpaws on sunny fall days.—
John Vukmirovich,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So, building here is an homage to Aspen’s past, a way of honoring the pioneers who helped transform a quiet mountain town into an international destination.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Patient pioneers The first patient to receive a pig kidney at Mass General was 62-year-old Rick Slayman in March 2024.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonists. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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