1
as in colonists
a person who settles in a new region
settlers learning to live in peace with the natives
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in immigrants
one that leaves one place to settle in another
in 1889 Jane Addams, in an effort to provide Chicago's latest wave of settlers with much-needed services, founded the city's first settlement house
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Recent Examples of settlers
The Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency says Sistrunk’s earliest settlers migrated from Georgia, South Carolina and the Bahamas in the late 1800s.
—
Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
In New England, Metacom’s, or King Philip’s, War – waged between Indigenous groups and English settlers – destroyed scores of communities in one of the most destructive conflicts, measured on a per capita basis, in American history.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Changing climate drove Norse settlers out of Greenland 700 years ago.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
In the high desert of Nevada, where irrigation ditches carved by 19th-century settlers still water the fields, the Frey family has perfected the art of growing grain in unlikely places.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 30 Dec. 2025
In Old Sacramento State Historic Park, field-trippers visit the California State Railroad Museum to learn about how locomotives changed the West dramatically, delivering settlers and increasing transcontinental trade.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
The small Christian community in the West Bank is facing increasing threats of extremism from various sides, including both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to escape the region.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Other videos have shown settlers acting with soldiers nearby, often supporting them.
—Lucas Lilieholm, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Built by German settlers in 1876, its initial mission was to provide their families with a place to socialize, dance the polka and enjoy traditional German music.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 25 Dec. 2025
Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
In New England, Metacom’s, or King Philip’s, War – waged between Indigenous groups and English settlers – destroyed scores of communities in one of the most destructive conflicts, measured on a per capita basis, in American history.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
Changing climate drove Norse settlers out of Greenland 700 years ago.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
In the high desert of Nevada, where irrigation ditches carved by 19th-century settlers still water the fields, the Frey family has perfected the art of growing grain in unlikely places.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 30 Dec. 2025
In Old Sacramento State Historic Park, field-trippers visit the California State Railroad Museum to learn about how locomotives changed the West dramatically, delivering settlers and increasing transcontinental trade.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
The small Christian community in the West Bank is facing increasing threats of extremism from various sides, including both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to escape the region.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Other videos have shown settlers acting with soldiers nearby, often supporting them.
—Lucas Lilieholm, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Built by German settlers in 1876, its initial mission was to provide their families with a place to socialize, dance the polka and enjoy traditional German music.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 25 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settlers
Noun
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Historians believe that the attack killed at least 400 colonists and soldiers, or about 1 in 6 Spaniards in New Mexico.—
Peter C. Mancall,
The Conversation,
9 Jan. 2026
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Baskets were a ubiquitous part of Chumash life before the colonists came.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The detention of at least five men in and around Minneapolis has sparked an outcry among Native American groups about Indigenous people being racially profiled as undocumented immigrants by federal immigration agents.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Jan. 2026
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At a previous hearing, Frimpong heard that immigrants were detained for extended periods at B-18 in conditions that prevented private communication with attorneys.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Chua is often credited as one of the pioneers of modern mixology in Singapore.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
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As the industry grew, pioneers like Henry Ford increased production through new machinery and business management practices, such as the assembly line and vertical integration.—
Jeff Mayhugh,
Washington Post,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The two undocumented migrants were identified as Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, a Portuguese man who was driving the van, and Salvadoran national Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel, the man authorities now say was in an ICE vehicle.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
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One fourth of Venezuelan migrants globally lack legal immigration status, Paez said.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The hotel was underwritten by the local banana-growing elite as well as by Canarian emigrants who had made their fortunes in the Americas.—
Javier Montes,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
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But while many Israeli emigrants have embarked on new lives in Cyprus, Canada and Thailand, according to DellaPergola’s analysis, few are prepared to speak publicly, citing a mistrust of the media and fear of anti-Israel sentiment.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The country currently shelters nearly 2 million refugees, the most in Africa.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Arabs deliberately placed the Arab refugees and their descendants in refugee camps as pawns in the propaganda war against Israel.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settlers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settlers. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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