as in caverns
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface
Kentucky's Mammoth Cave is actually a series of large chambers on five levels
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of caves
Matt Alderton, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The caves are easily the Meramec Valley’s biggest draw, but in the fall, half of the appeal is found above the surface of the Earth, when Missouri’s maples, ashes, hickories, and oaks start to change colors.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025
For decades, the Algarve has been beloved for its endless sunny days and dramatic coastlines with its picturesque beaches, craggy cliffs, and hidden caves.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
However, natural caves have been found in these mountains, including those at nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
—Mike Bezemek, Outside, 29 Oct. 2025
Known as knockers in England, kobolds also live in caves and mines and make knocking noises directing human miners where to dig.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Upon arrival at Santa Cruz Island, the guides provide all that’s needed to explore sea caves by kayak, plus the extraordinary opportunity to snorkel through the giant kelp forests.
—AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Artifacts make their way between the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor and the caves, but the offices at SubTropolis are not open to the public.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
With low humidity and protection from the elements, these cliffside caves create the perfect setting for preserving traces of human history and past environmental conditions.
—Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Just one of those caves, known as the Tour Cave, is open to the public.
—Matt Alderton, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The caves are easily the Meramec Valley’s biggest draw, but in the fall, half of the appeal is found above the surface of the Earth, when Missouri’s maples, ashes, hickories, and oaks start to change colors.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025
For decades, the Algarve has been beloved for its endless sunny days and dramatic coastlines with its picturesque beaches, craggy cliffs, and hidden caves.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
However, natural caves have been found in these mountains, including those at nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
—Mike Bezemek, Outside, 29 Oct. 2025
Known as knockers in England, kobolds also live in caves and mines and make knocking noises directing human miners where to dig.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Upon arrival at Santa Cruz Island, the guides provide all that’s needed to explore sea caves by kayak, plus the extraordinary opportunity to snorkel through the giant kelp forests.
—AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025
Artifacts make their way between the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor and the caves, but the offices at SubTropolis are not open to the public.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
With low humidity and protection from the elements, these cliffside caves create the perfect setting for preserving traces of human history and past environmental conditions.
—Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caves
Noun
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In the province of Salerno in southern Italy, the Grotte dell’Angelo is a karst system featuring a unique network of caverns and impressive stalactites hanging from the vaults and stalagmites rising from the floor.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
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What fantastic fantasies will lure risk-seeking treasure hunters to breach the massive walls of iron thorns surrounding mysterious radioactive caverns buried deep in the deserts?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Currently, federal law only guarantees a cow’s milk substitute—such as fortified soy milk—if a parent submits a physician’s note documenting a disability.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
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The city’s existing process has design work being completed either by city engineers or outside architects before a contractor is chosen — a decision based on which contractor submits the lowest bid.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To keep things fresh, producers have ventured into hitherto uncharted baking grottoes.—
Ruby Tandoh,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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One recipe yields about 3 1/2 cups, which is enough to frost the tops and sides of two 8- to 9-inch cake layers.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
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That contrast, between how meticulously Reichardt builds her story and the way her protagonist pinballs through his, yields a remarkably precise exploration of hubris as a self-destructive force.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Pythons are constrictors, known to grip prey in their jaws, coil around it, then squeeze until the victim capitulates.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caves. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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