Synonyms of harbored

harbored

verb

past tense of harbor

1

as in had

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 & Similar Words

• had
• held
• retained
• cultivated
• cherished
• entertained
• bore
• kept
• maintained
• nursed
• fostered
• remembered
• carried
• nurtured
• sustained
• preserved
• held on to
• hugged
• supported
• hung on to
• treasured
• stuck (to)
• clung (to)
• cleaved (to)
• brooded (about or over)
• fixated (on or upon)
• obsessed (about or over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignored
• disregarded
• dropped
• denied
• neglected
• overlooked
• refused
• rejected
• forgot
• declined
• abandoned
• repudiated
• scorned
• discarded
• renounced
• deserted
• disdained
• quit
• gave up
• erased
• abjured
• parted (with)
• forsook
• threw out
• expunged

2

as in housed

to provide with living quarters or shelter

the woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• housed
• accommodated
• lodged
• sheltered
• boarded
• camped
• domiciled
• bestowed
• roomed
• roofed
• billeted
• encamped
• quartered
• bunked
• chambered
• bivouacked
• ensconced
• took in
• secured
• put up
• stabled
• homed
• tented
• shedded
• roosted
• barracked
• bedded (down)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ejected
• evicted

3

as in sheltered

to be or provide a shelter for

the little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sheltered
• protected
• housed
• defended
• secured
• refuged
• safeguarded
• shielded
• warded
• screened
• domiciled
• covered
• shadowed
• placed
• shaded
• quartered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exposed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of harbored

Having grown up with the Larrabees’ children, Sabrina has always harbored feelings for David (Greg Kinnear), though he’s never reciprocated. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026

Officials said the suspects harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government. — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

The new findings showed that symptom-free older adults who harbored very high levels of p-tau217 had a 38% risk of developing cognitive impairment over five years. — ABC News, 15 July 2026

Officials have said the group members harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government. — Julie Carr Smyth, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Nandini Jammi, a fellow marketer, harbored the same concerns about digital marketing technologies. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026

But some in the auto industry have harbored fears about potential job losses if drivers in the United States switch en masse to EVs. — Keith Laing, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Over the course of the season, Chantal grows frustrated with her needy fiancé and begins falling for Jordie, who has harbored feelings for Delilah for years, but seemingly moves on and reciprocates Chantal’s affections. — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 11 June 2026

Sikiric remembers the juice sometimes harbored rats that had been caught and eaten by the pigs in their final hours. — Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 1 June 2026