as in fortresses
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
a series of forts along the frontier
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Recent Examples of forts
Battle Sites to Visit in Puebla The Battle of Puebla took place at two forts, Loreto and Guadalupe.
—
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
What makes the site especially remarkable is how much of the original structure remains intact; many forts from this era were destroyed, but Fort Macon has been carefully preserved and restored, offering a rare glimpse into the past.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The forts, palaces, gardens, mosques, mausoleums, and even cities that Mughal rulers commissioned reflect their ambition and affluence as much as their tastes and sensibilities.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Apr. 2026
To really know Curaçao is to appreciate its history, and its ancient forts (built circa 1500-1800) provide a window to the past.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
These individuals shaped Charleston’s politics and economy by building canals, roads, bridges, forts— virtually all the colony’s infrastructure—but their contributions were not documented and their names are unknown.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
The online game, which has a variety of modes, allows players to fight one another, build forts and explore the virtual world.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
The resulting star forts (so called because of their multiple fortified extrusions) solved a technological crisis.
—Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
There are more than 7,000 glaciers capping the hills of Gilgit-Baltistan, and travelers on the new trip can trek alongside them following visits to ancient Buddhist monuments and mud-brick forts.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
What makes the site especially remarkable is how much of the original structure remains intact; many forts from this era were destroyed, but Fort Macon has been carefully preserved and restored, offering a rare glimpse into the past.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
The forts, palaces, gardens, mosques, mausoleums, and even cities that Mughal rulers commissioned reflect their ambition and affluence as much as their tastes and sensibilities.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Apr. 2026
To really know Curaçao is to appreciate its history, and its ancient forts (built circa 1500-1800) provide a window to the past.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
These individuals shaped Charleston’s politics and economy by building canals, roads, bridges, forts— virtually all the colony’s infrastructure—but their contributions were not documented and their names are unknown.
—Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
The online game, which has a variety of modes, allows players to fight one another, build forts and explore the virtual world.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
The resulting star forts (so called because of their multiple fortified extrusions) solved a technological crisis.
—Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
There are more than 7,000 glaciers capping the hills of Gilgit-Baltistan, and travelers on the new trip can trek alongside them following visits to ancient Buddhist monuments and mud-brick forts.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forts
Noun
-
The eccentric design of Olana was inspired by fortresses in Persia (where, curiously, Church hadn’t travelled), as well as Italian, East Indian, Gothic Revival, and French Second Empire architecture.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The hilltop structures were originally built as Catholic shrines dedicated to the virgins they're named after, but were turned into military fortresses in the early 1800s—they have since been rehabilitated for tourism.—
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Covering the sarcophagus Yellow daffodils bloom beside wartime fortifications at the Chernobyl plant as workers in ordinary clothes, with badges and special permits, pass through the restricted zone.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The fortifications on the southern and western sides stretch 1,312 feet long, predating the 1st-century legionary camp for which Vindonissa is famous.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The map would create more GOP-friendly districts not only by condensing Democratic voters but also by making some Republican strongholds less sturdy in a year when Republicans are expected to take a hit on the November ballot.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, independent candidates aligned with the Democratic Party raised more than Republican Senate incumbents in the deep red strongholds of Montana and Nebraska last quarter.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Climb the 900-odd steps (or cop out in a car) for a walk through its eight baroque bastions and some breathtaking views.—
Helen Brown,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The surge in costs reflects a major shift for Chicago, known as one of the last bastions of big-city affordability.—
Bloomberg,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Seaview Terrace is one of the city’s many historic castles, and because everybody in the state knows each other, it’s naturally owned by Liz’s friend’s friend.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
-
The Academy Award winner famously bought castles in England and Germany, an island in the Bahamas and a mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana, that is said to be haunted.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The story is a bit murkier than Manichaean talk of stormers and citadels.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forts. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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