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
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
Puerto Rico was first colonized by the Spanish from 1493 until 1898, the year that the United States occupied the country as part of the Spanish-American War.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 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
People without risk factors generally do not get infected or colonized with Candida auris infection, Roberts 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
Witness historic alignments at Angel Mounds Before Europeans colonized the Americas, Indigenous people built 12 earthen mounds throughout what is now Evansville, Indiana.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Feb. 2026
Puerto Rico was first colonized by the Spanish from 1493 until 1898, the year that the United States occupied the country as part of the Spanish-American War.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 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
People without risk factors generally do not get infected or colonized with Candida auris infection, Roberts 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
Witness historic alignments at Angel Mounds Before Europeans colonized the Americas, Indigenous people built 12 earthen mounds throughout what is now Evansville, Indiana.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonized
Verb
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No, not the motion picture academy screening populated by Oscar voters with receding hairlines.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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These very early prehistoric burials in southern England and Wales, because of their northern location, haven’t generally survived due to the glaciers that populated the area during the Ice Age.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Nevertheless, Love Story, FX’s new limited series which premiered February 12, attempts to bring fans into the most intimate spaces inhabited by the late political heir and his savvy, stylish wife.—
Mekita Rivas,
Architectural Digest,
12 Feb. 2026
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The real International Space Station, 250 miles above Earth, has been inhabited by more than 290 individuals from 26 countries since 2000.—
Rodney Ho,
AJC.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonized. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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