General:
* Metropolis: A large, busy city, often considered the most important city in a region.
* Urban area: A general term for a densely populated area, including cities, towns, and suburbs.
* Municipality: A city or town with its own local government.
* Town: Smaller than a city, but still a place with a significant population.
* Settlement: A place where people live, which could range from a village to a large city.
More specific:
* Capital: The main city of a country or region.
* Port: A city with a harbor for ships.
* Hub: A central point of activity, often used for transportation or business.
* Conurbation: A group of cities that have grown together into a single, large urban area.
Informal:
* Downtown: The central business district of a city.
* The Big Apple: A nickname for New York City.
* The City: A common way to refer to a specific city, especially in a particular region.
To give you a better suggestion, please tell me what you are writing about and what kind of word you need!