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
But other bolt-holes stand out for giving the beds themselves extra attention, distinguishing them in some particularly charming or even surreal way (see beds carved out of literal ice).
—
Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
One of the first, exclusive members-only social clubs, Soho House debuted in London in 1995 and quickly became the bolt-hole of choice for celebrities and the deep-pocketed.
—Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
And for those familiar with the region, their bolt-hole of choice was no surprise: Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
One of the first, exclusive members-only social clubs, Soho House debuted in London in 1995 and quickly became the bolt-hole of choice for celebrities and the deep-pocketed.
—Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
And for those familiar with the region, their bolt-hole of choice was no surprise: Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt-hole
Noun
-
Velasco said families have fled to nearby towns, where many now take refuge in a soccer field.—
Megan Janetsky,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
-
For many, getting those resources meant seeking refuge away from Grizzly Flats.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Popular experiences include sauna and hydrotherapy bathhouses such as Soak Bathhouse and Sense Of Self, luxury spa retreats like Alba in the Mornington Peninsula and clinical skin treatments at specialist clinics in Sydney and Melbourne.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
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Of course, no lakeside retreat is complete without evening s'mores, which are complimentary for resort guests.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Though many people come to far West Texas for its isolation—the Unabomber’s slightly less reclusive brother did a stint here in the eighties, living at first in a crude underground shelter—Miller said that immigration-enforcement agents have been an intrusive presence for many years.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Newborns in incubators were transferred and doctors and nurses scrambled to find shelter amid fears the hospital would become the next casualty in Haiti’s escalating gang wars.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Then the scene’s perspective shifts, and Amadeus reveals that Salieri’s look of disgust is not for his younger rival but for the figure of Jesus Christ hanging on a cross above the sanctuary.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
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Expectant mothers, soon-to-be pregnant women and their supporters gathered in the sanctuary of a South Side church Saturday to learn how to best advocate for themselves during pregnancy and where to find health resources.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The beach starts just outside the tent and the water is home to Stingaree Reef, a snorkeler haven.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
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Maintain your home as a haven from summertime humidity and prevent potential problems with simple tricks and fixes.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolt-hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt-hole. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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