colonials

plural of colonial
as in settlers
a person who settles in a new region European colonials who built coffee plantations in East Africa

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 colonials About 1870, pajamas surfaced in the Western world as sleeping attire for men, after returning British colonials brought back with them the pajamas worn in India. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026 Contemporary colonials have been popular for some time and continue attract buyers. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026 The rest of the colonials quit the field, gathering at a tree line close by. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for colonials
Noun
  • California’s system of water law dates back to the Gold Rush, when the state government promoted the extermination of Native people to make way for white settlers.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The homeowner, Mahmoud Tubasi, told the AP that the soldiers initially brought him to his home but rioting settlers forced him to leave with his family in a military vehicle.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • New Atlas noted at the time that Samsung was following the path already established by pioneers such as Oura, but its arrival was a clear sign that smart rings were no longer just an experimental niche.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Industry pioneers such as SpaceX’s Starlink have developed optical inter-satellite links for defense and commercial constellations, deploying large numbers of laser terminals across Starlink and Starshield.
    — Rohit Jha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The contest for our land came to be between the British crown and the colonists.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The English lacked a body of laws specific to slavery; their colonists adapted.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Colonials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/colonials. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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