as in populated
to supply with inhabitants
believes that someday humans will be sent to colonize Mars
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Recent Examples of colonized
Life only became complex, differentiated, and colonized the continental land on Earth a few hundred million years ago.
—
Big Think, 17 Feb. 2026
The buildings that housed a prideful labor force are vandalized, colonized by squatters or boarded up.
—Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Ethiopia, the only African nation not colonized in the early 20th century, became a powerful symbol of Black freedom and influenced much of the visual symbolism seen today, according to Blavity (via Yahoo).
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Feb. 2026
Ours is one of a handful of countries never colonized by Europeans.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Denmark colonized Greenland 300 years ago and granted it the status of an autonomous territory in the 1970s, while retaining control of military and foreign policy.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Candida auris can spread easily from patients who are colonized or infected through physical touch, Wu said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
This, too, is the post-World War II order — the Cold War order, in which countries colonized by the Soviet Union were excluded from the liberal aspirations asserted by the West.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Big Think, 17 Feb. 2026
The buildings that housed a prideful labor force are vandalized, colonized by squatters or boarded up.
—Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Ethiopia, the only African nation not colonized in the early 20th century, became a powerful symbol of Black freedom and influenced much of the visual symbolism seen today, according to Blavity (via Yahoo).
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Feb. 2026
Ours is one of a handful of countries never colonized by Europeans.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Denmark colonized Greenland 300 years ago and granted it the status of an autonomous territory in the 1970s, while retaining control of military and foreign policy.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Candida auris can spread easily from patients who are colonized or infected through physical touch, Wu said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
This, too, is the post-World War II order — the Cold War order, in which countries colonized by the Soviet Union were excluded from the liberal aspirations asserted by the West.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonized
Verb
-
An auditorium in the Tri-Rail headquarters building next to the rail line’s Pompano Beach station was heavily populated by staff members and contractors, as well as Dech’s wife, Kathy.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
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This is a twisted travelogue of sorts, each chapter devoted to a circle of hell populated by one group of sports gambling’s myriad losers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The neighborhood/area The Soutpansberg Mountains are a biodiversity hotspot and cultural gem, home to thousands of endemic species and thriving Venda communities who have inhabited the region for hundreds of years.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
History of Guana Beach This Atlantic peninsula of Florida was originally inhabited by the Timucua people for nearly 5,000 years.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonized. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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