megalopolis

noun

ˌme-gə-ˈlä-pə-ləs How to pronounce megalopolis (audio)
Definition of megalopolisnext
as in metropolis
a thickly settled, highly populated area what was once a series of discrete towns interspersed with countryside is now one vast megalopolis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 megalopolis While strolling the exhibits, García explains the roots of one of the largest megalopolises on earth and how its evolution lends to the symbology and tradition of the festival. — Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2023 Boyu promises to be instrumental in helping Starbucks open stores in cities beyond Shanghai, Beijing, and China’s other megalopolises, while keeping costs in check. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for megalopolis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for megalopolis
  1. metropolis
  2. city
  3. town
Noun
  • About 80 miles from Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead is yet another easy mountain getaway for residents of SoCal’s largest metropolis.
    — Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
  • The modern Miami metropolis was built over the ruins of an earlier civilization.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Definition of metropolis
Noun
  • In the suburbs and across major cities, the buzzing machines are everywhere.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Rather, the department outlines a checklist developers must complete to get a stamp of recommendation from city staffers before going before the Commission.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
Definition of city
Noun
  • Located in the seaside town of Orebić, Villa Korta Katarina & Winery comprises eight luxurious suites, each designed with French balconies or terraces offering stunning sea views.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • Beyond the foliage there's apple picking, harvest festivals, Halloween in Salem and a string of storybook towns.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of town

Browse Nearby Words

megalomaniacs
megalopolis
megalopolises
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Megalopolis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/megalopolis. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on megalopolis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about megalopolis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All