alcoves

plural of alcove
1
as in pavilions
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views a small alcove in one corner of the backyard garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in nooks
a hollowed-out space in a wall an ancient vase in an alcove and a sculpture of Achilles on a stand in the museum's Greek Hall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 alcoves Princess Diana and the Duchess of York once turned up at the club dressed as policewomen and many romantic relationships were sealed in the dark alcoves, although the tabloids rarely, if ever, found out. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025 Now, designers like Hám Interiors are making clever use of compact spaces by fitting bedrooms with alcoves that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Chloe Frost-Smith, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 Inside the intimate cantina, a curved bar stands at the center of a domed space with alcoves around the edges. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025 Sand and silt that settle from floodwaters in places that smaller flows never reach, such as caves or alcoves along the walls of bedrock canyons. Ellen Wohl august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025 The lagoon has a few small alcoves and underwater benches to enjoy, as well as a cold plunge, a smaller hot bath, and natural steam baths. Maggie Fuller, AFAR Media, 1 Apr. 2025 Incorporating antique finds, greenery, and utilizing your home's quirky features, like alcoves and nooks, are just a few of the ways your home is set apart from the rest on the block. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2025 The artsy atmosphere of the hotel attracts remote workers to the lobby’s many alcoves to work. Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2025 The space is broken into five main sections, with private rooms, semi-private booths hidden in elaborate alcoves, a full bar slinging yuzu lemon drops and even a sushi bar. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alcoves
Noun
  • Or head to Ibirapuera Park, where the Oca and Bienal pavilions (both designed by modernist Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer) regularly host major exhibitions and events.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Now available at just under $15 million, the home was fashioned as a series of interconnected pavilions.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Aubrey Hall Tree has plenty of hooks for jackets, backpacks, and pet leashes, while exposed storage compartments offer the perfect nooks for shoes, hats, and other everyday items.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Suction power, an extra large dust cup, a detachable handle for slurping up dust and debris in nooks and crannies have all earned it major points with the Amazon crowd.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In Singapore 2023, Williams driver Logan Sargeant retired from the race due to the extreme conditions, while Lance Stroll collapsed by his car after the race, near blacking out in high-speed corners.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Look closely near the corners or edges of the frame for a blurry patch, smeared light, or a soft square that looks slightly out of focus — that’s where the watermark used to be.
    Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Stainless-steel twin vanities are tucked into niches at opposite ends of the 20-foot-long space, while the water closet and double shower are obscured behind frosted glass and metal doors.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Thanks in large part to the internet and social media, this demographic has become loud, unignorable, and—for many booksellers and publishers in other literary niches—enviable.
    Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alcoves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alcoves. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on alcoves

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!