dens

Definition of densnext
plural of den
1
as in lairs
the shelter or resting place of a wild animal the foxes hid in their den until the bear finally left the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in hideouts
a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others an abandoned building that is often used as a den by the city's petty criminals

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 dens Are prediction markets safe places for news junkies to bet on events - or dens of insider trading? CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026 Are prediction markets safe places for news junkies to bet on events — or dens of insider trading? ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026 The state even has cameras put up near their dens. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026 Bear cubs are usually born in January and February, leaving their dens with their mothers sometime in April for tree-climbing lessons. Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026 The same dens may be used for several years. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 While some wasps, like paper wasps, create papery nests under roof peaks and in the high branches of trees, yellow jackets usually build their nests in hollow logs and stumps, or in underground burrows, often abandoned rodent dens. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2026 That’s the message from MassWildlife, as thousands of black bears leave their winter dens and seek out food. Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026 Generally, humans and pets alike should stay away from thick patches of brush where dens are most common. Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dens
Noun
  • These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The octopuses can safely stand still during their hour-long mating process because, Villar speculates, both male and female can be hidden in their respective rocky hideouts.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • There was no immediate comment from Pakistan, which repeatedly has said its military only targets Afghan posts and militant hideouts.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Knight explains that, over the last 20 years, the beach has typically seen 80 to 115 nests (with 100 to 120 eggs in each nest).
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Provide Nesting Materials Create a habitat in your front, side, or backyard where birds can build nests and find materials to make one.
    Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • An unseasonable weather pattern that included heavy rain and sweltering heat served as a signal for rattlesnakes to slither out of their underground winter burrows in search of food and mates.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
  • There may be four to five flat entrance holes to burrows concentrated in a small area.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In Lincoln Square on Saturday afternoon, nearly half a block of houses on West Carmen Avenue was sectioned off with police tape while police searched for the suspect.
    Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Closer to home, agents searched houses across New England, relying heavily on informants.
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dens. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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