dens

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 Black bears typically enter dens between October and December and reemerge between March and May, according to state wildlife officials. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026 These drinking dens sit side by side with decades-old pubs that welcome locals and visitors with open arms (but maybe not a smile, especially in the winter). Tanya Edwards, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 These are important tools used for both feeding and building their dens and digging for other menu items such as mice, gophers, voles and shrews. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026 My favorite book Tracking and the Art of Seeing taught you how to read animal signs, how to find claw marks on trees and dens in hollow logs. Emeline Atwood, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026 State biologists are monitoring dens for signs of new pups. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 May 2026 Spaces range from glorified game rooms, sports bars, speakeasies and hunting lodges to poker dens, studios and places to showcase career or travel highlights. Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 22 May 2026 There would be heroin dens and gay bars and this underbelly of popular culture at the time. James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 While you may be tempted to blame other animals such as opossums or snakes, or even coyotes for making holes or burrows in your yard, these creatures are more likely to use existing animal holes for their dens. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 May 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
  • One&Only One Za’abeel is the brand’s first foray into urban resorts, swapping sand for a skyscraper vibe—and more city hideouts are on the cards.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026
  • The water, too, was wild—the Allegheny and its tributaries had yet to be dammed, and Flag Swamp was noted as one of the last hideouts for beavers in the state.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • Many native ants have single colonies with one queen, but Asian needle ants can live in supercolonies with multiple nests and multiple queens, sharing resources and moving between nests.
    Eva Flowe June 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2026
  • Intervention isn't usually allowed at eagle nests, but since the problem clearly had a human cause, people got permission to step in.
    Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Their burrows are extensive, with at least two entrances.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
  • Gassing of the muskrat runs, or burrows, was also tried.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Along the bay stood a long, busy waterfront, lined with warehouses, shops and trading houses.
    R. Grant Gilmore III, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
  • Such offenders will use all different ruses to distract the victim, such as claiming to be utility workers, tree trimmers, or handymen working on neighbors' houses.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dens. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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