as in refuge
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger
her cottage in the Lake District served as her bolt-hole whenever the stresses of London became too great
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 bolt-hole
His magical renovation of Villa Mabrouka—the late Yves Saint Laurent's Tangier bolt-hole, with a Slim Aarons–worthy kidney-bean pool just outside the casbah—is as immaculately dressed down as an insouciant white linen shirt.
—
Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023
Around that time, some smaller properties also debuted — boutique charmers like Castello di Vicarello, Borgo Santo Pietro, Villa Fontelunga, and the Val d'Orcia bolt-hole La Bandita Country Hotel.
—Lee Marshall, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2023
Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023
Around that time, some smaller properties also debuted — boutique charmers like Castello di Vicarello, Borgo Santo Pietro, Villa Fontelunga, and the Val d'Orcia bolt-hole La Bandita Country Hotel.
—Lee Marshall, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt-hole
Noun
-
And, showcasing their awesome, frightening power, one avalanche derailed a train in Switzerland on Monday, injuring five on board, while another swept through a refuge on a French mountainside earlier this month, shattering windows and dumping snowdrifts inside the building’s kitchen.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Amid its evolution into a shopping and dining powerhouse, the neighborhood long craved a calm refuge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The latest addition to Niseko’s already thriving hotel scene, Higashiyama Niseko Village stands out as an intimate retreat in a prime ski spot.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
-
This stylish retreat on the Rangitahi Peninsula is just a 15-minute stroll from the town center and is surrounded by walking tracks that take you from bush to sea in moments.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Islamabad blames Pakistani Taliban militants for much of that violence – and accuses Kabul of giving them shelter on its territory.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The backstory Founded in 1941 by British mystic Edwin John Dingle—better known as Ding Le Mei—the Mentalphysics Spiritual Teaching and Retreat Center was conceived as a sanctuary for spiritual inquiry and mental well-being.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
According to Ruby, seven of the 20 or so churches in G92, a Christian immigrant advocacy coalition in the city, are ready to offer physical sanctuary, though many are avoiding publicity for fear of harassment.—
Caitlin Hu,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mohd Azrin/Getty Images Gold prices have been on an impressive uphill climb over the last year, and have seen major gains over the past few months, in particular, fueled by a mix of persistent inflation, central bank accumulation and a widespread appetite for safe-haven assets.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The group later held a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq — where its fighters had long found safe havens during the insurgency — and burned dozens of weapons in a cauldron before starting to withdraw its remaining fighters from Turkey to Iraq.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolt-hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt-hole. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
