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
The mythologies of the medical ass could blossom, like the oral folklore of a tribe allowed to retain its own myths without the colonizing interference of invaders.
—
Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The creatures rapidly spread along the interconnected coastal highways of a changing world, colonizing new habitats just as the Age of Dinosaurs began around 252 million years ago.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
That 16th century term for Catholics became a 17th century term for Protestants, as Britain set about colonizing the Irish province of Ulster with Scottish Presbyterians.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
The mega-rocket’s next liftoff could happen as soon as March, according to Elon Musk, who recently said his commercial space firm has shifted its focus from colonizing Mars to first setting up a base on the moon.
—Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2026
Musk has regularly expressed his ambitions in space travel, previously suggesting colonizing Mars.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 9 Feb. 2026
Starship launches from Starbase Musk has often spoken about his vision of colonizing other worlds in our solar system to ensure humanity's survival in the event of an extinction-level even on Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The world’s leading menswear brands have never been shy about colonizing new territory—and recently, the best are heading to the hills.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2026
Worldwide, as Birol suggests, electricity is colonizing sectors earlier dominated by combustion.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
The creatures rapidly spread along the interconnected coastal highways of a changing world, colonizing new habitats just as the Age of Dinosaurs began around 252 million years ago.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
That 16th century term for Catholics became a 17th century term for Protestants, as Britain set about colonizing the Irish province of Ulster with Scottish Presbyterians.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
The mega-rocket’s next liftoff could happen as soon as March, according to Elon Musk, who recently said his commercial space firm has shifted its focus from colonizing Mars to first setting up a base on the moon.
—Brandon Lingle, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2026
Musk has regularly expressed his ambitions in space travel, previously suggesting colonizing Mars.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 9 Feb. 2026
Starship launches from Starbase Musk has often spoken about his vision of colonizing other worlds in our solar system to ensure humanity's survival in the event of an extinction-level even on Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
The world’s leading menswear brands have never been shy about colonizing new territory—and recently, the best are heading to the hills.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2026
Worldwide, as Birol suggests, electricity is colonizing sectors earlier dominated by combustion.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonizing
Verb
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Daisy Duck This eyelash curler truly leaves no crumbs, but is Daisy Duck inhabiting anyone else’s body?—
Fiona Landers,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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In these stretches, Willow sounds less concerned with proving her musicianship than actually inhabiting it.—
Precious Fondren,
Pitchfork,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Geographic isolation and cold temperatures have actually hindered snakes from populating the wilds of many islands; New Zealand, Iceland and Greenland are all also snake-free.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
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Some of the people populating the world’s feeds are doing valuable work—the journalists and open-source-intelligence gatherers trying to confirm events and produce original reporting, for example.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonizing. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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