1
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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Recent Examples of colonies
Unlike the 13 colonies, East and West Florida were largely unaffected by the British Stamp Act and other taxes that fueled resentment elsewhere because the colonies produced relatively little for the British colonial economy.
—
Hank Tester,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Gwinnett was an English clergymen’s son who sailed for the colonies in 1762 and opened a general store in Savannah in 1765.
—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
30 June 2026
The American Revolution is often told as a heroic story of 13 colonies rising up against a mighty empire and, with some help from France, winning their independence.
—
R. Grant Gilmore Iii,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
The practice, many legal historians believe, dates to the 1600s and 1700s, with European rulers encouraging migration to the expanding American colonies.
—
Julie Watson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
The core dispute evolved beyond specific taxes to Parliament's fundamental authority over the colonies.
—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
In Fischer’s version, early immigrants from four different regions of Great Britain established cultures in different regions of the American colonies.
—
James Traub,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
Finally, YLHs are of interest to public health because these are stinging insects that produce large colonies much bigger than our native stinging insects.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
28 June 2026
After the Boston Tea Party, the British government cracked down on the colonies with a series of oppressive laws known as the Intolerable Acts.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Hank Tester,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Gwinnett was an English clergymen’s son who sailed for the colonies in 1762 and opened a general store in Savannah in 1765.
—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
30 June 2026
The American Revolution is often told as a heroic story of 13 colonies rising up against a mighty empire and, with some help from France, winning their independence.
—
R. Grant Gilmore Iii,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
The practice, many legal historians believe, dates to the 1600s and 1700s, with European rulers encouraging migration to the expanding American colonies.
—
Julie Watson,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
The core dispute evolved beyond specific taxes to Parliament's fundamental authority over the colonies.
—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
In Fischer’s version, early immigrants from four different regions of Great Britain established cultures in different regions of the American colonies.
—
James Traub,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
Finally, YLHs are of interest to public health because these are stinging insects that produce large colonies much bigger than our native stinging insects.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
28 June 2026
After the Boston Tea Party, the British government cracked down on the colonies with a series of oppressive laws known as the Intolerable Acts.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonies
Noun
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The beginnings of modern Miami Early American settlers attempted to establish plantations along the Miami River, though many failed to prosper.
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Starting in the seventeenth century, Spanish colonists enslaved Africans and brought them to the coffee and cocoa plantations that were concentrated in the area.
Noun
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Across the country, communities are hosting festivals, block parties, volunteer projects, exhibits and commemorative events as part of America250, the nationwide effort to mark the anniversary.
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Brockton is home to one of the largest Cape Verdean communities in the United States, with nearly one in four residents identifying as Cape Verdean, according to local outlet The Enterprise.
Noun
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The collaboration brings glow-inducing facials inspired by goop Beauty’s latest skincare launch, antioxidant-rich smoothies and beauty products tucked into the minibar of the eco-forward hotel brand with outposts in Miami and Toronto.
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The parallel Katsuya brand was born, bringing sleek, high-end outposts to Brentwood, Hollywood, downtown and Century City.
Cite this Entry
“Colonies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonies. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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