as in cities
a thickly settled, highly populated area
after driving for miles with nothing but corn and wheat fields to look at, we were relieved to roll into a small town and have a bite to eat at the local diner
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Recent Examples of towns
In Columbia — which houses the University of Missouri and, as is often the case with college towns, leans blue — the backlash started to hit home in 2020, Ross remembered.
—
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
The Rand McNally Road Atlas and Vacation Guide -- The Essential Atlas-Guide to America’s Vacation Destinations -- lists in its index thousands of towns, villages and cities in the Western Hemisphere.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
There was damage to a parking lot in Tel Aviv and to buildings in several outlying towns, authorities said, describing the impacts as caused by debris from interceptions.
—Arsalan Shahla, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
In the suburbs or small towns, garages can be rented for RVs, lawn equipment, or contractor storage.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026
From its storied coastline to its mountain peaks, California is peppered with gorgeous small towns.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
On summer days, residents of Hershey and nearby towns would flock to the park to enjoy a day of picnics, carnival rides, band concerts, swimming and dancing.
—John Haddad, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Niche looked at suburban cities and towns as well as neighborhoods in big metro areas like Charlotte.
—Chase Jordan
march 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
People move to mountain towns specifically for this purpose, to be part of an active community that appreciates the outdoor lifestyle.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
The Rand McNally Road Atlas and Vacation Guide -- The Essential Atlas-Guide to America’s Vacation Destinations -- lists in its index thousands of towns, villages and cities in the Western Hemisphere.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
There was damage to a parking lot in Tel Aviv and to buildings in several outlying towns, authorities said, describing the impacts as caused by debris from interceptions.
—Arsalan Shahla, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
In the suburbs or small towns, garages can be rented for RVs, lawn equipment, or contractor storage.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026
From its storied coastline to its mountain peaks, California is peppered with gorgeous small towns.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
On summer days, residents of Hershey and nearby towns would flock to the park to enjoy a day of picnics, carnival rides, band concerts, swimming and dancing.
—John Haddad, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Niche looked at suburban cities and towns as well as neighborhoods in big metro areas like Charlotte.
—Chase Jordan
march 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
People move to mountain towns specifically for this purpose, to be part of an active community that appreciates the outdoor lifestyle.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for towns
Noun
-
Meanwhile, expatriate Hungarians in cities such as Berlin, Brussels, Paris, and London—a smaller contingent, deemed unreliable by virtue of their exposure to cosmopolitan societies—must queue up at diplomatic missions.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
As in those cities, drone deliveries in Atlanta will be completed using Wing’s drones.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The city’s geographic location insulates it from some of the excesses and blinkered thinking that often dominate other metropolises.—
Daniel Holz,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The small city of Sausalito, California, promises a Mediterranean escape minutes from one of the nation’s biggest metropolises, San Francisco.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Towns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/towns. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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