as in inhabiting
to supply with inhabitants
believes that someday humans will be sent to colonize Mars
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Recent Examples of colonizing
Few analysts will be asking Musk about his long-term plans for colonizing Mars.
—
Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
As the leading companies’ models improve, AI systems may eventually outcompete humans—as if an advanced species were on the cusp of colonizing the earth.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Dec. 2025
The Earth resembles one large vegetable organism, and plants are also colonizing outer space.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
For instance, in 1997, Nelli Zhdanova, a Ukrainian mycologist, discovered black mould colonizing the highly radioactive ruins of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, growing across walls, ceilings, and even inside the reactor building.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Dec. 2025
But Musk, a sci-fi fan, has long been focused on humanity colonizing Mars and mastering space travel.
—PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
Um, Chris happens to be indigenous, and indigenous peoples in, in the US and Canada have suffered horrible abuse at the hands of, of the colonizing states.
—Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2025
But the discovery of a woman’s body — and a very strange encounter with the ants colonizing it — soon proves that things can always get worse.
—Neil McRobert, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
The original collection of short stories was published in 1950 and centered on Earth colonizing the Red Planet in a series of devastating expeditions, and its interactions with the world's psychic native inhabitants.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 Dec. 2025
As the leading companies’ models improve, AI systems may eventually outcompete humans—as if an advanced species were on the cusp of colonizing the earth.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Dec. 2025
The Earth resembles one large vegetable organism, and plants are also colonizing outer space.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
For instance, in 1997, Nelli Zhdanova, a Ukrainian mycologist, discovered black mould colonizing the highly radioactive ruins of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, growing across walls, ceilings, and even inside the reactor building.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Dec. 2025
But Musk, a sci-fi fan, has long been focused on humanity colonizing Mars and mastering space travel.
—PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
Um, Chris happens to be indigenous, and indigenous peoples in, in the US and Canada have suffered horrible abuse at the hands of, of the colonizing states.
—Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2025
But the discovery of a woman’s body — and a very strange encounter with the ants colonizing it — soon proves that things can always get worse.
—Neil McRobert, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
The original collection of short stories was published in 1950 and centered on Earth colonizing the Red Planet in a series of devastating expeditions, and its interactions with the world's psychic native inhabitants.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonizing
Verb
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The casting of Hahn will be a bit of a magical treat to fans, who for months had fan-cast her as the bad guy in this project, even when actress Scarlett Johansson was temporarily inhabiting it.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
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These felines lived up to their elusive reputation by inhabiting a swampy forest, an environment that requires navigating harsh natural obstacles to reach.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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That sets it apart from the myriad space operas populating big-budget TV in recent years; the relationships are the real substance of the show, the interstellar adventures are the dessert.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Want to get a closer look at the diverse menagerie of worlds populating our solar system?—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Colonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonizing. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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