as in settlers
a person who settles in a new region
the first colonizers of Easter Island must have faced untold challenges
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Recent Examples of colonizers
In the late 19th century, contact with British colonizers wiped out eight groups of indigenous peoples collectively called the Great Andamanese in the Andaman Islands, north of the Nicobar.
—
M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
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
M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonizers
Noun
-
The earth itself has an abundance of pot-worthy clay, which attracted early settlers and has continued to sustain generations of potters.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
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Island habitats are particularly vulnerable to invasive species, often brought by human settlers, Wiens said, and not necessarily representative of a broader extinction risk.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
9 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
Noun
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Their pacifism later brings them in direct conflict with the colonists gearing up to fight the British.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
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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 15 Sep. 2025.
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