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
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Families can embark on thrilling excursions like whale watching tours or exploring the ice caves of Mendenhall Glacier while in port.
—Jessica Puckett, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Then the whey is packed, shaped, and aged in caves like Batman’s Robin’s.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
Are the caves in the film real caves?
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Ortigia Island Excursion offers a variety of options, from a daytime tour of Ortigia and its stunning nearby sea caves to a sunset aperitivo cruise.
—Michele Becker, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2026
Bats can fly through total darkness, dodge obstacles at high speed, and weave through caves without crashing.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Feeling cool mud squish between toes, stepping on pine needles and exploring meditation caves, scent stations and dark rooms transform a routine walk into an immersive experience.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
But Key Largo is a former coral reef, with thousands of caves and crevices in which pythons take shelter, making snakes unreachable when breeding or hiding from a dog.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
In some sea caves, harbor seals rest in the quiet shade.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Families can embark on thrilling excursions like whale watching tours or exploring the ice caves of Mendenhall Glacier while in port.
—Jessica Puckett, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Then the whey is packed, shaped, and aged in caves like Batman’s Robin’s.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026
Are the caves in the film real caves?
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Ortigia Island Excursion offers a variety of options, from a daytime tour of Ortigia and its stunning nearby sea caves to a sunset aperitivo cruise.
—Michele Becker, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2026
Bats can fly through total darkness, dodge obstacles at high speed, and weave through caves without crashing.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Feeling cool mud squish between toes, stepping on pine needles and exploring meditation caves, scent stations and dark rooms transform a routine walk into an immersive experience.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
But Key Largo is a former coral reef, with thousands of caves and crevices in which pythons take shelter, making snakes unreachable when breeding or hiding from a dog.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caves
Noun
-
Fire made the inhospitable conditions of caves more bearable, as caverns were often cold, dark, damp, and home to other residents like lions, bears, and hyenas, which had to be displaced.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
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Back at Big Thunder, there will be other fresh surprises, including 2,000 bats added in the approach to the ride’s rainbow caverns.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a related lawsuit, a coalition of cultural preservation and architecture groups, including the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is also suing to halt the closure until the Center submits renovation plans to Congress for its approval.—
Elizabeth Blair,
NPR,
30 Apr. 2026
-
SpaceX routinely submits regulatory filings to authorize new gateway sites.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The grottoes, just a half-mile in, are well worth visiting to see an example of the erosive powers of water and time.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
-
Highlights include Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, the cliffside grottoes of Dunhuang, and a camel ride across the dunes of the Gobi Desert.—
Everett Potter,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Chicago composer has achieved viral success with her melancholy instrumental music, but her return to traditional singer-songwriter fare yields mixed results.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
29 Apr. 2026
-
That larger sample yields an important insight.—
Jason Jewell,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After Jamie Gittens overruns the ball, Jorrel Hato picks up the pieces and reworks the move out wide to Cole Palmer.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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 7 May. 2026.
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