Thesaurus results for COLONIES

colonies

noun

plural of colony

as in plantations

a settlement in a new country or region the early history of New York City when it was a Dutch colony

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as in communities

a group of people with a common interest living in one place New Hampshire's MacDowell colony was founded as a summer residence for writers and composers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of colonies Coral reefs near seabird colonies are generally healthier, thanks to the nutrients that birds deposit in their guano. — Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 In 1867, the British government united its North American colonies to form the Canadian Confederation, in part to deter Washington from invading Canada in retaliation for London’s assistance to the Confederacy during the Civil War. — Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026 As the colonies grow, more layers of sediment are trapped and solidified beneath them by biofilms that the organisms produce, causing the whole colony to build upward in layers, like the pages in this book. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 Cooling to below 50° C (122° F) took up to 5 million years, still enough heat for colonies of microbes to thrive. — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026 Police are continuing their investigation and are appealing for information that could help locate the missing colonies or identify those responsible. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026 Management of cat colonies that don’t have that impact is left up to cities and counties, and some consider feral cats a public nuisance and allow their animal control officers to trap and remove them. — Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 Because Charles remains Jamaica’s head of state, the island nation was able to directly petition him using an ancient legal mechanism that former colonies that have already transitioned to republics cannot access. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026 The pink tint of the guano reveals the balance of krill and fish in the penguins’ diet, allowing scientists to monitor the remote colonies and observe how the decline of Antarctic sea ice is altering the region’s food web. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonies

Noun

The trees are the legacy of coconut plantations established more than a century ago.

— Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026
Among those rescued were a female orangutan known as Mama Man and her infant, Man, who had been monitored for months in a small forest patch surrounded by plantations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of plantations

Noun

Examples of interpersonal violence are rare among Stone Age remains, only becoming common later as hunting and gathering gave way to settled farming communities.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Sacramento tourism officials are looking beyond major events to attract more visitors, highlighting the capital city's cultural attractions, diverse communities, local restaurants and history.

— James Taylor, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of communities

Noun

Settlers have established hundreds of additional outposts without government authorization, while still enjoying protection from the Israeli military.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
In the lobby is Milly’s, serving coffee from Cherry Roasters and pastries from Ayu Bakery, both local businesses with their own outposts.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of outposts

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colonials

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“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of colonies

noun

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