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 Restaurateur Robert LeBlanc and his team have created a neighborhood bar that takes its drinks seriously, a welcome addition to the New Orleans bar landscape which is notably short on dedicated whiskey dens. Kristin Braswell, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 Other Animals 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, 12 Sep. 2026 Mother bears like Electra will teach their cubs about safe places to build dens, where and when to find food, and how to get it. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026 The project’s team also sank artificial dens in the waters to give the vulnerable newcomers somewhere to hide. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 As people continue to seek comfort and meaningful moments at home, dens provide the ideal environment. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026 Think under-stair dog dens, laundry-room cat cubbies tucked next to the dryer for warmth, and litter box enclosures hidden inside custom benches with ventilation fans that exhaust odor outside. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026 Doggy dens and cat cubbies Cozy sleeping nooks built into under-stair cavities, cabinet bases, or custom millwork, giving pets a den of their own that disappears into the architecture. Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026 Our thriving food capital draws diners out with sunlit farmers markets, midnight taco stands, multigenerational kebab shops and serene sushi dens. Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dens
Noun
  • Some large bulls may retreat to lairs and hang out by themselves, remaining there as long as there is adequate food and water.
    Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
  • These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The days are long and hot, and elk retreat to cool hideouts in the timber.
    Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Pakistani security forces killed 48 militants in a series of raids on hideouts in the country's restive southwest over the past 72 hours, the military said Friday.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Tarantula hawk wasp nests One of the primary triggers for tarantula hawk wasp aggression is encroachment into its territory.
    Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026
  • An insecticide dust, which comes in a squeeze bottle, is another option for stubborn nests.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Tarantula hawk wasps are a subtype of solitary insect that live in underground burrows.
    Sean Donnelly, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Other Animals 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, 12 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Every September, around 830 boys from ages 13 to 18 take planes, trains, and automobiles to install themselves in their boarding houses at Harrow on the Hill.
    Ashley Baker, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The 40-year-old designer is part of a whole class of millennials working for historical fashion houses who have been tasked with making young shoppers feel things.
    Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dens. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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