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 With the launch of the Culling Game in the aftermath, 10 colonies from across Japan are transformed into dens of curses as part of a plot orchestrated by the most wicked sorcerer in history, Noritoshi Kamo. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025 The pups are unlikely to be using the dens built by their parents, because typically those are used only for the first few months of life, Benedet said. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025 Known to be pack rats, Allegheny woodrats will store large piles of food, called middens, in their dens. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 15 Oct. 2025 The pups are now exploring outside their dens for the first time at about 12 weeks old, the zoo said. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025 To survive Alaska’s punishing winters, brown bears spend the season hibernating in their dens. Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025 Along the way, visitors may spot signs of the sanctuary’s most visible resident, the beaver, from impressive dams to cleverly constructed dens and lodges, as well as birds such as the snow goose, lapland longspur, and chimney swift. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025 Bears do not truly hibernate, but instead enervate, or enter a state of torpor, in their dens. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2025 Gone were the dark bars and cigar dens, replaced postwar by suitably mid-century alleys with shiny chrome bumper rails. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 24 Sep. 2025
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
  • If this were true, Solomon would learn all of this elder’s secret hideouts and survival tricks, resulting in a formidable pair for any hunter to take on.
    Jim Tschetter, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2025
  • According to the Old Farmers Almanac, however, the moon’s name actually refers to the worm-like beetle larvae that come out from winter hideouts, such as thawing tree bark, during this time of year.
    Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Includes quirky facts, adages, advice, quotes and proverbs, as well as articles about mistletoe, bird nests, perennials, timekeeping, recipes and more.
    Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Professionals use cameras to see every nook and cranny, checking for damage, nests, or buildup.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Understanding Cluster Flies Cluster flies lay eggs in cracks in the soil in fields and gardens near the entrance to earthworm burrows.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The larvae then hatches from the eggs and burrows into tissue of animals to feed on them.
    Lori Ann LaRocco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • When houses go dark and demand dips, power prices often nosedive.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
  • With Mercury retrograde stirring your third and fourth houses, misunderstandings at home or with loved ones could test your patience.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dens. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

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