dens

Definition of densnext
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 The species is typically found in high elevation, mountainous areas and often gives birth to litters of kits in dens dug in snow. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 12 Jan. 2026 Wood and wood veneer wall coverings make great feature walls or add coziness to dens or libraries. Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2026 Although the marble bathrooms are themselves little dens of luxury, the proprietary Four Seasons Bed is the star, complete with temperature-regulation technology and pillow menu. Juliana Shallcross, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025 The actor plays a depressed and traumatized FBI agent leading a task force investigating a series of home invasions targeting drug dens in the area. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025 Homeowners tend to experience the brunt of the headaches because raccoons often use attics and areas underneath porches for their dens. Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025 The same dens may be used for several years. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025 Elsewhere are a couple of cozy dens and four bedrooms, the homeowner’s suite being on the main floor with an outdoor shower and private patio. Mark David, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2025 Like many bear aficionados, Propst chases bears from the time the animals emerge from their dens in March to the time hibernation begins in December. John McCoy, Outdoor Life, 12 Nov. 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
  • From serene mountain hideouts to tiny communities with picture-perfect main streets, here are eight of Tennessee’s most romantic small towns for your next weekend away.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The attackers who raided Kasuwan-Daji arrived from the National Park Forest along Kabe district, according to the police, pointing to a usual trend where abandoned expansive forest reserves act as hideouts for armed gangs.
    CBS News, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The pendulous nests of weaverbirds, two feet long, hung like decorations from the trees along the banks.
    Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
  • In Chicago, the large lakeshore population of Canadian geese has become a major food source for Cook County coyotes, not so much the adult geese themselves as the contents of their nests, nearly half of which get raided in most years.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Solo wasps survive the winter as juveniles in places such as underground burrows, hollow stems, or cavities, says Hayes.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
  • In a paleontological first, researchers have discovered that bees used the jawbones of now extinct mammals as burrows.
    Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • DiDonato has appeared on catwalks for major fashion houses and has featured in publications such as Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar.
    Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Events across the region are taking place all day at schools, local businesses, houses of worship and burned down local landmarks in various stages of rebuilding.
    David Wilson, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dens. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

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