as in city
a thickly settled, highly populated area
such modern megacities as São Paulo and Mexico City
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of megacity
While Lagos dominates headlines as a megacity of 17 million, secondary cities such as Benin are quietly becoming engines of economic activity, innovation and migration.
—
Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
While there are high-speed trains to Istanbul from other parts of Turkey, the easiest way to get there is to fly, as you’ll be deposited right in the heart of this sprawling megacity.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
The Yidan Center, by Zaha Hadid Architects, is located in Shenzhen and forms part of a burgeoning cultural quarter in the Chinese megacity.
—New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2025
Going Off-Grid in Japan’s Uncrowded, Otherworldly Gotō Islands The 150-plus-island archipelago has drawn megacity transplants seeking a more relaxed pace of life in tune with the rhythms of nature.
—Melinda Joe, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for megacity
Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
While there are high-speed trains to Istanbul from other parts of Turkey, the easiest way to get there is to fly, as you’ll be deposited right in the heart of this sprawling megacity.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
The Yidan Center, by Zaha Hadid Architects, is located in Shenzhen and forms part of a burgeoning cultural quarter in the Chinese megacity.
—New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2025
Going Off-Grid in Japan’s Uncrowded, Otherworldly Gotō Islands The 150-plus-island archipelago has drawn megacity transplants seeking a more relaxed pace of life in tune with the rhythms of nature.
—Melinda Joe, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for megacity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for megacity
Noun
-
Having this premiere at the only high school in Gary was intentional, and city leaders hope youngsters growing up there can recognize that greatness comes from the city.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Two major cities north of Saigon, Hue and Da Nang, fell rapidly—Hue on March 25th and Da Nang five days later.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Khartoum, a metropolis of 7 million, sits at the confluence of tributaries, a sort of Pittsburgh-on-the-Nile.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Still, its close proximity to one of the most populous cities in the nation has spurred a five-year boom, drawing new residents (including celebrities such as Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler) and weekend visitors with its distinct wildness and quietude compared to the nearby metropolis.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
From the opening scene of the family’s move to town, the soft and wistful light shapes the film’s emotional world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Then on Friday, Israeli warplanes struck near a state security office in the southern town of Nabatieh, killing 13 officers, according to the Lebanese president’s office.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Megacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/megacity. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
