1
as in to nestle
to establish or place comfortably or snugly the kids had contentedly ensconced themselves on the couch before the TV happily ensconced in her new home

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2
as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place ensconced the spare house key in a place where no intruder would think to look

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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 ensconce Quick-witted and unapologetically direct, he has long been ensconced in notable New York City circles. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025 His hand, protectively ensconced in a sliding mitt, touched the bag before the tag. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 17 Sep. 2025 Other additions to the Messages app, at least for people safely ensconced in a group of blue-bubble friends, are live-updating polls, and typing indicators that tell you which person in a group chat is typing. ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025 Flash forward to Kubrick’s haunting final act when astronaut Dave Bowman is ensconced, spacesuit in tow, in a bizarre, futuristic rococo hotel suite. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ensconce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensconce
Verb
  • Dahlia tubers can even be kept in open crates nestled between layers of compost.
    Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • At least one lunch spot in Willcox, nestled in a vineyard, gives the feel of an eatery in a California wine country.
    Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The family travelled north from Central America for weeks, crossing rivers by night and riding concealed in smugglers’ trucks.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Gardner orchestrates the scene; placing the girl in the center, then asking her, or perhaps even demonstrating, how to wrap the blanket around her body so her hands are concealed.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • One month before the fatal shooting in August, on July 11, gunshots destroyed 11 windows at The Grand; Bullets entered the apartment building and lodged into cabinets and walls, the suit claims.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
  • That complaint saw the NCP launching an investigation into Shein; the MPs that lodged the complaint met with Shein and the French NCP in February for mediation.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • All three of the boot styles, alongside a product manifest and brand artifacts — all buried in a container designed to withstand the elements, much like its contents.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Later, the researchers send in ultrasonic waves when the same object is hidden in a complex environment, such as a steel ball buried in sand.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The middle aisle is restocked with home goods, organizers, candles, cleaning gadgets, even clothing and shoes, and new ALDI food items are stocked on the shelves, perched and ready for the deals to be snapped up by customers.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Burnett perched in a director’s chair beneath a portable ring light.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Target’s sale has discounts on thousands of storage furniture pieces, like this soft and roomy fleece bench with a lift-top and this cabinet that discreetly hides and deodorizes trash cans.
    Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Johnson sat in the makeup chair for two hours undergoing a transformation process that resulted in the cauliflower ears, a specific browbone piece and other prosthetics, plus hiding his tattoos.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Despite the risks, Democratic strategists like James Carville believe the party is better positioned politically, noting that Republicans control both the House and the Senate, as well as the White House.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • If all that wasn’t enough, 12 gold Arthurian knights have been positioned around the dial, acting as the Lady’s loyal protectors and hour markers.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After just a few minutes on each arm, the soreness had noticeably decreased, and my arms looked more defined and less puffy, especially near the underarm area where water retention tends to settle.
    Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Skipping regular washes—Letting white towels sit too long between washes gives body oils, makeup, and mildew more time to settle into the fibers and stain them permanently.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ensconce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensconce. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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