as in crowded
formal
having a large population
a populous seaport the most populous state in the U.S.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of populous
The company analyzed PropertyShark data and online government records to calculate the total acreage and number of parcels of undeveloped land throughout the 20 most populous American cities, ranking them from highest to lowest.
—
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Gray is the top lawman in the state's least populous county, north-central Kentucky's Robertson County.
—Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
But despite ongoing arguments over crime and public safety in Missouri’s fourth most populous city, most reports never list Columbia anywhere near the most dangerous cities in Missouri.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have also been attacking vessels in the Red Sea since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.
—Reuters, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for populous
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Gray is the top lawman in the state's least populous county, north-central Kentucky's Robertson County.
—Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
But despite ongoing arguments over crime and public safety in Missouri’s fourth most populous city, most reports never list Columbia anywhere near the most dangerous cities in Missouri.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have also been attacking vessels in the Red Sea since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023.
—Reuters, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for populous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for populous
Adjective
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Many of the activists who most recently fought to keep the park support housing development, but Smith said the project will ultimately do a disservice to students and other neighborhood residents who are losing an important open space in a crowded urban environment.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
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His analytical discipline transforms vision into velocity and gives the company its edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace.—
Sara Smith,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The pattern included a vibrant red floral motif that cascaded from the bodice of the dress to the hem of the skirt, with shades of muted metallic gold and dark tones featured throughout.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
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Rich in seafood and history, Rockport was once a vibrant hub for the export of timber and granite, and a dock was built in 1743 to make shipments easier.—
Megan Margulies,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Populous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populous. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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