Colonize and Decolonize
Opposite meaning words
Colonize
Colonize verb - Settle as a colony; of countries in the developing world.
Usage example: Europeans colonized Africa in the 17th century
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Synonyms for Colonize
Decolonize is an antonym for colonize.
Decolonize
Decolonize verb - Grant independence to (a former colony).
Usage example: West Africa was decolonized in the early 1960's
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Synonyms for Decolonize
Colonize is an antonym for decolonize.
Nearby Words: decolonisation, decolonization, decolonizing
Cite this Source
Decolonize and Colonize. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/colonize/decolonize
Colonize & Decolonize. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/colonize/decolonize>.
Decolonize or Colonize. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/colonize/decolonize.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "colonize" and "decolonize" have occurred on timeline