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
Subscribe today When the most populous nation on Earth forges a trade deal with a bloc that comprises nearly 15% of the world’s GDP, the ramifications will be widespread — and not just in monetary terms.
—
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Census estimates show Chicago retained its position as the nation’s third most populous city, after New York and Los Angeles, in 2024.
—Mike Schneider, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
The accounts from Mashhad, Iran’s second-most populous city, are a small window into one of the most lethal government actions the Iranian regime has taken in recent history.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Jacksonville recently cracked 1 million residents, as well as the Top 10 most populous cities in the United States, according to the most recent Census data.
—Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for populous
Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Census estimates show Chicago retained its position as the nation’s third most populous city, after New York and Los Angeles, in 2024.
—Mike Schneider, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
The accounts from Mashhad, Iran’s second-most populous city, are a small window into one of the most lethal government actions the Iranian regime has taken in recent history.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Jacksonville recently cracked 1 million residents, as well as the Top 10 most populous cities in the United States, according to the most recent Census data.
—Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for populous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for populous
Adjective
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Vying for a parking spot on a crowded city street after a snowstorm has long felt like going to battle, and now there's a harrowing twist.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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But a crowded Democratic field increases the chances that two Republicans and no Democrats make it past the June primary.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Matching boots and leggings in black or a similarly dark neutral shade make a beautiful backdrop for a vibrant sweater.—
Amber Rambharose,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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The area, once home to a vibrant Black community known as Freedman’s Town, is now a mix of residential and commercial high-rise towers, pulsing nightlife and pricey townhomes.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Populous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populous. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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