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
By the early 20th century, after several centuries of rape, disease, enslavement, and land confiscation by colonizers, rubber barons, and loggers, their numbers had been reduced to 300.
—
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Four years later, Spanish colonizers returned to New Mexico and once again set out to bring the vast desert and its determined residents back under their control.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
After 15 years, Spanish troops dispersed the settlement—which had grown to 4,000, and had its own cavalry—but subsequent maroon groups forced colonizers to sign treaties with them.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Alcohol has devastated generations of Indigenous peoples in the Americas ever since it was introduced by colonizers.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 22 Dec. 2025
They were built by Europeans – the Spanish colonizers.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Fire and Ash finds the threat from the human RDA colonizers looming over Pandora as Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) grieve the loss of their eldest son.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
White Sonoran wheat—derived from an ancient grain as old as 6,500 BCE and brought to the region by Spanish colonizers—is also primed for desert landscapes.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
For the colonizers, worse still was to come.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Four years later, Spanish colonizers returned to New Mexico and once again set out to bring the vast desert and its determined residents back under their control.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
After 15 years, Spanish troops dispersed the settlement—which had grown to 4,000, and had its own cavalry—but subsequent maroon groups forced colonizers to sign treaties with them.
—Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Alcohol has devastated generations of Indigenous peoples in the Americas ever since it was introduced by colonizers.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 22 Dec. 2025
They were built by Europeans – the Spanish colonizers.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Fire and Ash finds the threat from the human RDA colonizers looming over Pandora as Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) grieve the loss of their eldest son.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
White Sonoran wheat—derived from an ancient grain as old as 6,500 BCE and brought to the region by Spanish colonizers—is also primed for desert landscapes.
—Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025
For the colonizers, worse still was to come.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonizers
Noun
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In the 1700s, Dutch settlers arrived at Kalk Bay, and it was later occupied by British colonists who turned it into a major whaling center.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2026
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From there, settlers quickly established a foothold by creating a makeshift cultural center at the site, putting on lectures, readings and exhibits.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The city was founded by Mormon pioneers and built with a grid system that fans out from the Temple Square.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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For anyone who is looking, there are easy-to-find references to pioneers of the genre, particularly to artists associated with the rich cultural history of Taos and the rest of New Mexico.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Articles of Association of 1774 was signed by all 53 delegates urging colonists to boycott British goods, marking the Continental Congress's first protest against Britain.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In the 1700s, Dutch settlers arrived at Kalk Bay, and it was later occupied by British colonists who turned it into a major whaling center.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonizers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonizers. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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