1
as in residents
a usually longtime resident of a locality
the natives seem to resent the summer tourists even though they depend upon them for their livelihood
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aborigines
a member of the first people to inhabit a region
the anthropologist spent two years living among the island's natives and observing and documenting their customs and traditions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of natives
In the thick of the madness are two Kansas City natives.
—
Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
For mature drought-resilient plants, natives and succulents, water just once every few weeks or even once a month.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The Bronx natives say popping up in the bodega was the natural choice.
—Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
But these Illini also are powered by two Indiana natives who don’t necessarily fill up the stat sheet.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Red or orange tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, as do natives like honeysuckle, bee balm and hummingbird sage, which are rich with nectar.
—James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
These gatherings, Underhill thought, always look like a meeting of the United Nations — natives of Jamaica, China, Guatemala, Ireland, Colombia, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Chile, Spain, and Ecuador were summoned here, in common purpose.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
In a recent Reddit discussion among Wisconsin natives, commenters traded stories about just how long a Midwest goodbye can last.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Remember, California natives should not need to be watered once they are established if they are properly situated — in sync with the cultural conditions of their habitat.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
For mature drought-resilient plants, natives and succulents, water just once every few weeks or even once a month.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The Bronx natives say popping up in the bodega was the natural choice.
—Jessi Roti, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
But these Illini also are powered by two Indiana natives who don’t necessarily fill up the stat sheet.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Red or orange tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, as do natives like honeysuckle, bee balm and hummingbird sage, which are rich with nectar.
—James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
These gatherings, Underhill thought, always look like a meeting of the United Nations — natives of Jamaica, China, Guatemala, Ireland, Colombia, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Chile, Spain, and Ecuador were summoned here, in common purpose.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
In a recent Reddit discussion among Wisconsin natives, commenters traded stories about just how long a Midwest goodbye can last.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Remember, California natives should not need to be watered once they are established if they are properly situated — in sync with the cultural conditions of their habitat.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for natives
Noun
-
Officials stress that no action is needed and that residents should not call 911.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The loss of the historical building drew criticism from the public and former residents, including former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Despite the geopolitical and financial constraints, the sea-level canal studies employed hundreds of researchers who increased knowledge of the isthmus and its human and nonhuman inhabitants.—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the geopolitical and financial constraints, the sea-level canal studies employed hundreds of researchers who increased knowledge of the isthmus and its human and nonhuman inhabitants.—
Christine Keiner,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Inn stays shut during winter and ‘pack ice’ season, which some locals will tell you is the most beautiful time of all—for snowmobiling and snowshoeing through the Island’s interior by day, and come evening, getting invited into someone's warm shed for a tipple and a chat.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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How travelers approach the city and locals can make or break the experience.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Natives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/natives. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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