as in city
a thickly settled, highly populated area
a sprawling cosmopolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their fortune
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Recent Examples of cosmopolis
While Istanbul and Cappadocia are more popular with tourists to Turkey, don't miss the chance to explore Izmir, which was once the country's most thriving cosmopolis.
—
Lilit Marcus, CNN, 8 Oct. 2022
Istanbul is a cosmopolis unlike any other—where the remains of former empires, the cultural influences of multi-ethnic communities, and contemporary Turkish identity all exist in delicate harmony.
—Feride Yalav-Heckeroth, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2022
On the Volga a quasi-capital rose at Sarai, established by Batu around 1250, and grew into a cosmopolis of artisans, farmers, and merchants from as far away as Syria, Egypt, even Greece—so many that a New Sarai was founded upriver.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
For decades a symbol of all that was dead and dysfunctional in the ever-expanding cosmopolis, the river is undergoing its own rehabilitation, shedding some of its visible concrete.
—Alexandra Marshall, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2018
Lilit Marcus, CNN, 8 Oct. 2022
Istanbul is a cosmopolis unlike any other—where the remains of former empires, the cultural influences of multi-ethnic communities, and contemporary Turkish identity all exist in delicate harmony.
—Feride Yalav-Heckeroth, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2022
On the Volga a quasi-capital rose at Sarai, established by Batu around 1250, and grew into a cosmopolis of artisans, farmers, and merchants from as far away as Syria, Egypt, even Greece—so many that a New Sarai was founded upriver.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
For decades a symbol of all that was dead and dysfunctional in the ever-expanding cosmopolis, the river is undergoing its own rehabilitation, shedding some of its visible concrete.
—Alexandra Marshall, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cosmopolis
Noun
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The legislation would provide greater flexibility for governments in allocating funding under the program, which was created in 1990 as part of a broader shift in housing policy toward greater responsibility for states and cities.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
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The small town offers a slow and peaceful life for a fraction of the cost of most Arizona cities.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The 31-year-old Latin trap sensation, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio and was born in the Puerto Rican metropolis of Bayamón, packed his halftime performance with tributes to Latin American culture and community.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
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Southern metropolises like Charleston, Nashville, and New Orleans also made the cut.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Four people, including some children, were hurt when a 49-year-old man drove into the front of the Truckee Safeway on Saturday afternoon, town police said in a statement.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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Each one is an artifact of her toxic relationship with her town.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cosmopolis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cosmopolis. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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