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 As people continue to seek comfort and meaningful moments at home, dens provide the ideal environment. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026 Beyond hazing, Badger and Banjo help flush bears from urban dens, crawl beneath houses to locate animals in crawl spaces, and search for injured or orphaned bears. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 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 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 State biologists are monitoring dens for signs of new pups. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 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
  • Mod Periscope The perfect tool to peek out of secret hideouts—and infinitely customizable!
    Jodi Levine, Parents, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Others recounted people falling sick, being beaten by the rain, and told to hide whenever Nigerian military helicopters flew over the forest hideouts where the captors held them.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In the Chesapeake Bay, osprey chicks are dying in their nests at rates not seen since the DDT era.
    Mark Robichaux, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Paper wasps build nests under eaves, benches and fence railings and will sting if disturbed.
    Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Their body temperature drops from about that of a human to as low as 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius), not much warmer than their burrows in winter.
    Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • As opposed to beavers that build dams and lodges, block streams and divert and channel water, these beavers dig underwater into the bank of the reservoir and access their burrows through underground tunnels.
    Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Beyond distribution, the deal includes a co-production slate between ReelShort and Indonesian production houses, with resulting series set to appear on both platforms.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • ReelShort has struck a deal with Indonesian streaming platform Vidio to bring hundreds of microdramas to local audiences, as well as co-produce new short dramas with Indonesian production houses.
    Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dens. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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