as in city
a thickly settled, highly populated area
a sprawling cosmopolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their fortune
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Recent Examples of cosmopolis
Istanbul is a cosmopolis unlike any other—where the remains of former empires, the cultural influences of multi-ethnic communities, and contemporary Turkish identity all exist in delicate harmony.
—
Feride Yalav-Heckeroth, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2022
While Istanbul and Cappadocia are more popular with tourists to Turkey, don't miss the chance to explore Izmir, which was once the country's most thriving cosmopolis.
—Lilit Marcus, CNN, 8 Oct. 2022
On the Volga a quasi-capital rose at Sarai, established by Batu around 1250, and grew into a cosmopolis of artisans, farmers, and merchants from as far away as Syria, Egypt, even Greece—so many that a New Sarai was founded upriver.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
For decades a symbol of all that was dead and dysfunctional in the ever-expanding cosmopolis, the river is undergoing its own rehabilitation, shedding some of its visible concrete.
—Alexandra Marshall, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2018
Feride Yalav-Heckeroth, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2022
While Istanbul and Cappadocia are more popular with tourists to Turkey, don't miss the chance to explore Izmir, which was once the country's most thriving cosmopolis.
—Lilit Marcus, CNN, 8 Oct. 2022
On the Volga a quasi-capital rose at Sarai, established by Batu around 1250, and grew into a cosmopolis of artisans, farmers, and merchants from as far away as Syria, Egypt, even Greece—so many that a New Sarai was founded upriver.
—Colin Thubron, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2021
For decades a symbol of all that was dead and dysfunctional in the ever-expanding cosmopolis, the river is undergoing its own rehabilitation, shedding some of its visible concrete.
—Alexandra Marshall, WSJ, 14 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cosmopolis
Noun
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Unlike many cities, Cincinnati still has its 19th-century beer tunnels.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
21 July 2025
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The heat index could reach 105 to 110 degrees on Monday afternoon for cities such as Raleigh, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida.—
Daniel Peck,
ABC News,
20 July 2025
Noun
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This find is the first time a Caracol king has been identified over the decades of research at the site, which was a dominant Maya metropolis before its abandonment by 900 AD.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
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Shanghai is the third-largest city in the world, with a population of just over 40 million, and is one of the most vibrant metropolises in the country.—
John Wogan,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Deputies responded to a residence in Hilliard, a small town northwest of Jacksonville, around 8 p.m. Thursday, but got no response from anyone inside and found multiple shooting victims upon entering, Leeper said.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 July 2025
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Located just down the road from Setúbal, retirees can find a sleepy town that could just be their forever home.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cosmopolis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cosmopolis. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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