POPULATED Synonyms: 8 Similar and Opposite Words

populated

verb

past tense of populate

as in inhabited

to supply with inhabitants a small island populated only by woodland creatures

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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 populated The primary setting of the show is Manhattan Plaza, a subsidized apartment complex populated by artists and musicians, where Ali finds a sense of community while navigating a strained relationship with her mother, Jersey, and a budding romance. — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The mini-Mozarts populated not only the garden of the composer's former house, but also his living quarters as well as several pavilions. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 In a time yet to be named, when the couple’s love crumbled in the dead of night during a blackout, the planet became populated once more. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 The area is fairly sparsely populated, but radar indications suggest the tornado that touched down could have been strong. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Not long afterward, their ship runs aground on an uncharted island heavily populated by dinosaurs. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026 Featuring an ensemble populated by killer character actors like Jacki Weaver, Luis Guzmán, Kurtwood Smith, Timothy Spall, and Michael Chernus, Perpetual Grace, LTD is an off-kilter neo-noir that mines deranged humor from its eccentric characters. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 This era, known as the Cambrian Explosion, saw the very first intricate ecosystems populated by early examples of many major animal groups appear in oceans. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026 According to Rouse, the album grew out of observations gathered while traveling, with its songs populated by drifters, dreamers and fleeting encounters that blur the line between fiction and autobiography. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for populated

inhabited

Verb

As the Marathas worked to expand their empire, Durrani invaded India for a fourth time (1756–57), resulting in the Afghans establishing control in the Punjab, which was inhabited by Sikhs.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
Archaeologists have uncovered tombs, theaters, baths, stadiums, and other remnants of the city, which was inhabited for more than 1,000 years.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of inhabited

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“Populated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populated. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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verb

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