as in populated
to supply with inhabitants
believes that someday humans will be sent to colonize Mars
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Recent Examples of colonized
Ethiopia, the only African nation not colonized in the early 20th century, became a powerful symbol of Black freedom and influenced much of the visual symbolism seen today, according to Blavity (via Yahoo).
—
Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Feb. 2026
Puerto Rico was first colonized by the Spanish from 1493 until 1898, the year that the United States occupied the country as part of the Spanish-American War.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Ours is one of a handful of countries never colonized by Europeans.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Denmark colonized Greenland 300 years ago and granted it the status of an autonomous territory in the 1970s, while retaining control of military and foreign policy.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
People without risk factors generally do not get infected or colonized with Candida auris infection, Roberts said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
This, too, is the post-World War II order — the Cold War order, in which countries colonized by the Soviet Union were excluded from the liberal aspirations asserted by the West.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Witness historic alignments at Angel Mounds Before Europeans colonized the Americas, Indigenous people built 12 earthen mounds throughout what is now Evansville, Indiana.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Feb. 2026
Puerto Rico was first colonized by the Spanish from 1493 until 1898, the year that the United States occupied the country as part of the Spanish-American War.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Ours is one of a handful of countries never colonized by Europeans.
—Arash Azizi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Denmark colonized Greenland 300 years ago and granted it the status of an autonomous territory in the 1970s, while retaining control of military and foreign policy.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
The result was over a century of catastrophe, not just for ordinary Europeans but also for the people of numerous African countries that were colonized, often brutally.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
People without risk factors generally do not get infected or colonized with Candida auris infection, Roberts said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
This, too, is the post-World War II order — the Cold War order, in which countries colonized by the Soviet Union were excluded from the liberal aspirations asserted by the West.
—M. Gessen, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Witness historic alignments at Angel Mounds Before Europeans colonized the Americas, Indigenous people built 12 earthen mounds throughout what is now Evansville, Indiana.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonized
Verb
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The area is populated with stony terraces and narrow streets where bistros serve good Italian food (this being so close to the Italian border) and markets to shop for artisanal items.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Women are ornamental to a world entirely populated and controlled by rich men.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While some sassi have been preserved as museums, others are now inhabited by gelaterias, pottery shops, boutique hotels, and restaurants like Vitantonio Lombardo, where the Orient Express passengers convened for a long lunch.—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
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The grenades detonated on the terrace of a residential building, which was inhabited by a family with children, according to the AP.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Colonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonized. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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