Definition of colonizernext
as in settler
a person who settles in a new region the first colonizers of Easter Island must have faced untold challenges

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 colonizer Dark visions and secrets quickly come to light, as Mārama grapples with her heritage in the shadow of colonizers. William Earl, Variety, 26 June 2026 European colonizers in lands that became the United States did link church and state. Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 Later, colonizers cut down the trees to plant pineapple and sugarcane; the land dried out and became vulnerable to fire. Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026 Norway was itself a colonizer, and programs oppressing indigenous cultures and languages were in place well into the 1960s. Ola Morris Innset, The Dial, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for colonizer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonizer
Noun
  • But concerns about Israel’s ability and willingness to rein in the settlers remain even among evangelicals, who are among the staunchest Christian supporters of Israel.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Qusra siege reflects broader violence The standoff in Qusra began Sunday when dozens of settlers arrived and blocked the doors to the three houses, preventing occupants from leaving, according to the families inside.
    Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Venture just beyond downtown to Mount Moriah Cemetery, where Calamity Jane lies buried next to Wild Bill Hickok; paths through the pines lead to the graves of pioneers and other Wild West figures, like Seth Bullock.
    Jacqueline Kehoe, Midwest Living, 19 Aug. 2026
  • New York — Columbia House, a pioneer of subscription music before streaming, is shutting down after seven decades in business.
    Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • What happened to the colonists remains unknown, but archaeological finds—including otherwise anachronistic English artifacts on Hatteras Island—give some support to White’s theory that at least some of the colonists relocated willingly.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In the sketch, Washington’s announcement prompts a skeptical colonist (David) to imagine a future leader who ignores the Constitution, uses the presidency for personal gain and seeks to remain in power.
    Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Ideally located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in the Taskers Pond neighborhood, a handsome colonial has just come on the market.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
  • And that is sticking with us generation after generation, 50 years after our independence [in 1975 from Portuguese colonial rule].
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Colonizer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonizer. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster