as in crowded
formal
having a large population
a populous seaport the most populous state in the U.S.
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Recent Examples of populous
With more than 4 million people lying in its path, Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be the first cyclone to cross the coast near Brisbane, the country's third most populous city, since Cyclone Zoe hit the Gold Coast in 1974, according to the Associated Press.
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Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
As the nation’s most populous state and one that consumes a lot of products from our neighbor to the south, experts warn Californians should brace for sticker shock on food, drink, cars, housing and more.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025
One reason for what appears to be a disconnect between what different sheriffs are saying reflects what the large agencies — Broward and Palm Beach are the second and fourth most populous counties, respectively, in the state — are already doing.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
That's the 12th-highest percentage among the country's 100 most populous metro areas, with New York and Washington D.C. topping the list.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for populous
Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
As the nation’s most populous state and one that consumes a lot of products from our neighbor to the south, experts warn Californians should brace for sticker shock on food, drink, cars, housing and more.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025
One reason for what appears to be a disconnect between what different sheriffs are saying reflects what the large agencies — Broward and Palm Beach are the second and fourth most populous counties, respectively, in the state — are already doing.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
That's the 12th-highest percentage among the country's 100 most populous metro areas, with New York and Washington D.C. topping the list.
—Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for populous
Cite this Entry
“Populous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populous. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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