as in settlers
a person who settles in a new region
the first colonizers of Easter Island must have faced untold challenges
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 colonizers
The poem presents the Trojans, and the future Romans of Virgil’s own time, as both the underdogs and the oppressors, both the migrants and the colonizers, both the wretched refugees and the imperial overlords.
—
Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
That’s largely because, in recent centuries, waves of colonizers globally discouraged or even outlawed the teaching and learning of Indigenous languages — eradication that researchers and technologists like Boyer, as well as organizations like UNESCO, are now working to undo.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
The Sámi and Shawnee often viewed their relationship with the outside powers differently from how the colonizers saw things.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Aug. 2025
Indigenous people have been questioned–and much worse–since European colonizers first stepped foot on what is now called North America.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Puerto Rico served as an entry point to the Americas for Spanish colonizers, who, as early as the 16th century, profited off sugarcane and tobacco grown there.
—Rebecca L. Rhoades, Saveur, 20 Aug. 2025
Recently it was renamed the Battle of Fort Dearborn, acknowledging that both sides committed atrocities in the centuries-long struggle between Native Americans and European colonizers for control of what became the United States.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Indigenous languages differ so much from the colonizers’ language of English they can’t be understood by simply replacing words.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Alcohol has devastated generations of Indigenous peoples in the Americas ever since it was introduced by colonizers.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024
Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
That’s largely because, in recent centuries, waves of colonizers globally discouraged or even outlawed the teaching and learning of Indigenous languages — eradication that researchers and technologists like Boyer, as well as organizations like UNESCO, are now working to undo.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
The Sámi and Shawnee often viewed their relationship with the outside powers differently from how the colonizers saw things.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Aug. 2025
Indigenous people have been questioned–and much worse–since European colonizers first stepped foot on what is now called North America.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Puerto Rico served as an entry point to the Americas for Spanish colonizers, who, as early as the 16th century, profited off sugarcane and tobacco grown there.
—Rebecca L. Rhoades, Saveur, 20 Aug. 2025
Recently it was renamed the Battle of Fort Dearborn, acknowledging that both sides committed atrocities in the centuries-long struggle between Native Americans and European colonizers for control of what became the United States.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Indigenous languages differ so much from the colonizers’ language of English they can’t be understood by simply replacing words.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Alcohol has devastated generations of Indigenous peoples in the Americas ever since it was introduced by colonizers.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonizers
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Colonizers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonizers. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share