as in crowded
formal
having a large population
a populous seaport the most populous state in the U.S.
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Recent Examples of populous
To the bottom left is the urban sprawl of Milano — the second most populous city in Italy, while historic Verona sits to its right, close to the azure expanse of Lake Garda.
—
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Yet the country’s second most-populous city has managed to botch the process of reviewing what went wrong.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Hennepin County is Minnesota's most populous county, home to the state's largest jail, which Witt says operates at roughly 85% capacity on most days.
—Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
But doing so would be much more difficult in a high-turnout election in a populous place like Fulton County, where lots of people were voting at the same time.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for populous
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Yet the country’s second most-populous city has managed to botch the process of reviewing what went wrong.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
Hennepin County is Minnesota's most populous county, home to the state's largest jail, which Witt says operates at roughly 85% capacity on most days.
—Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
But doing so would be much more difficult in a high-turnout election in a populous place like Fulton County, where lots of people were voting at the same time.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for populous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for populous
Adjective
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The booking reinforces the festival’s pivot toward industry-defining names in an increasingly crowded festival field.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
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The crowded field has some Democrats worried about the possibility of both Hilton and Bianco making it into the runoff, shutting out the party that has controlled the Governor’s Office since 2011 if Democrats split the vote.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Of the other options, Bone Fire takes grilling to another level with unique preparations of excellent cuts of meat and fresh fish, while Marea, which serves lunch and dinner, explores the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean.—
José Cantillo Ferrer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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Kelly’s emotional two-dimensionality increases our anger on behalf of Pidgeon’s Carolyn, a vibrant professional woman who sees her life and her career toxified by the paparazzi and the press.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Populous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populous. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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