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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
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Recent Examples of dens
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
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, 21 Sep. 2025
During this time, around two dozen species of snakes slither from their winter dens in high limestone cliffs to their summer feeding grounds in LaRue Swamp.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 19 Sep. 2025
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
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, 21 Sep. 2025
During this time, around two dozen species of snakes slither from their winter dens in high limestone cliffs to their summer feeding grounds in LaRue Swamp.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dens
Noun
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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
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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
-
The variety of sizes means each bowl perfectly nests within one another for easy organization in your cabinets.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
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Travel routes were longer, which made the nests less efficient but helped insulate healthy ants from infected ones.—
NPR,
NPR,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The larvae then hatches from the eggs and burrows into tissue of animals to feed on them.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
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Not camping, sleeping or resting near animal burrows or areas where dead rodents are observed.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Along with Evans, the speakers of the Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina houses of representatives also signed onto the letter asking for help from Congress to help the forestry industry in their respective states.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
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Awards will include the Tokyo Projects Award, worth $13,300 (JPY2M), selected by an industry jury; the Asian Gen‑Z Award, worth $3,300 (JPY500,000), chosen by a committee of Gen-Z film students; as well as in-kind awards from leading Asian post-production houses White Light and Kongchak.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dens. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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