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
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Recent Examples of bolt-hole
The Broadwick Soho’s Flute James MacDonald Broadwick Soho For 57-room bolt-hole Broadwick Soho, owner Noel Hayden was inspired by his 1980s upbringing in a quirky hotel in Dorset.
—
Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2024
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
Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2024
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
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Sosa Rojas first fled persecution in Venezuela in 2014, seeking refuge with his family in Colombia, where his wife was born.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
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The Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.—
Laurent Dubois,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Wellness-Centric Bathrooms Design trends over the last few years have positioned the bathroom as a personal retreat and sanctuary.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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The Nordic – Charlestown, Rhode Island What began as a family-run vacation retreat in the 1960s has evolved into one of America’s most talked-about luxury buffets.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
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If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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This is a sanctuary, a place of calm.—
Elazar Sontag,
Washington Post,
10 Jan. 2026
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Wellness-Centric Bathrooms Design trends over the last few years have positioned the bathroom as a personal retreat and sanctuary.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is our chance to recognize and support them — and to commit to building shelters that are truly safe havens for pets and people alike.—
Scott Giacoppo,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
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Recent investigations like OpenLux and the 2017 series Panama Papers, however, reveal how bad actors also sometimes use these havens to launder illicit cash and evade taxes.—
Deena Sabry,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bolt-hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt-hole. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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