Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

harbor

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of harbor

1 a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships
  • The tanker stayed in Boston harbor three days to undergo repairs.
Synonyms of harbor

anchorage, harborage, haven, port
Words Related to harbor

basin, dock, marina, moorage, mooring

arm, bay, bight, cove, estuary, firth, fjord (also fiord), gulf, inlet, lagoon, narrow, roads, roadstead

canal, channel, sound, strait

containerport, home port, seaport
2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger
  • Seeking a harbor from the drenching rain, we ducked into a café.
Synonyms of harbor

asylum, harborage, haven, refuge, retreat, sanctuary, sanctum, shelter
Words Related to harbor

oasis

anchorage, mooring, port

cover, screen

housing, lodging, quarters, residence, rest, roof

cloister, closet, covert, den, hermitage, hideaway, hideout, lair

lean-to, lee, shed, windbreak

harbor

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of harbor

1 to keep in one's mind or heart
  • He had long harbored a grudge against his old employer, who had high-handedly fired him without cause.
Synonyms of harbor

bear, cherish, entertain, have, hold, nurse
Words Related to harbor

cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain

carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure

cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to)

brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), obsess (about or over)
Phrases Synonymous with harbor

hang on to, hold on to
Near Antonyms of harbor

disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook

abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn

abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out

erase, expunge
2 to provide with living quarters or shelter
  • The woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks.
Synonyms of harbor

accommodate, bestow, billet, bivouac, board, bunk, camp, chamber, domicile, encamp, house, lodge, put up, quarter, roof, room, shelter, take in
Words Related to harbor

ensconce, home, roost, secure, shed, stable, tent

barrack

bed (down)
Near Antonyms of harbor

eject, evict
3 to be or provide a shelter for
  • The little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines.
Synonyms of harbor

refuge, shelter
Words Related to harbor

cover, defend, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward

domicile, house, place, quarter

shade, shadow
Near Antonyms of harbor

expose

Learn More about harbor

  1. See words that rhyme with harbor Dictionary: Definition of harbor Medical Dictionary: Definition of harbor Spanish Central: Translation of harbor Nglish: Translation of harbor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of harbor for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about harbor

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up harbor? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games