1
as in having
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accommodating
to provide with living quarters or shelter
the woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sheltering
to be or provide a shelter for
the little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harboring
By harboring terrorists and letting its facilities serve as Hamas headquarters, UNRWA has become an arm of Hamas.
—
Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Pakistan is also embroiled in a conflict with neighboring Afghanistan, accusing Kabul of harboring Pakistani militants who are fighting against the government in Islamabad — a charge Kabul denies.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants that carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, including the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.
—CBS News, 10 June 2026
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, the two investment banks harboring the biggest market shares by far in tech IPOs, are now battling to lead looming debuts that promise the winners a pair of the richest profit pots in Wall Street history.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Wood cutting boards are notorious for harboring bacteria within their organic surface.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
The 32-year-old grew up in Boise, Idaho, playing football on his high school team but harboring dreams to perform.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Jaime Dunaway-Seale, the report author, said college students may be harboring unrealistic hopes about starting pay in an era of steadily rising costs for housing, consumer goods and most everything else.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 29 May 2026
O’Ward will go into his seventh Indy 500 on Sunday not only harboring his own hopes of success, but also as part of McLaren’s bid to replicate its recent Formula 1 success.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Pakistan is also embroiled in a conflict with neighboring Afghanistan, accusing Kabul of harboring Pakistani militants who are fighting against the government in Islamabad — a charge Kabul denies.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants that carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, including the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.
—CBS News, 10 June 2026
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, the two investment banks harboring the biggest market shares by far in tech IPOs, are now battling to lead looming debuts that promise the winners a pair of the richest profit pots in Wall Street history.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Wood cutting boards are notorious for harboring bacteria within their organic surface.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
The 32-year-old grew up in Boise, Idaho, playing football on his high school team but harboring dreams to perform.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Jaime Dunaway-Seale, the report author, said college students may be harboring unrealistic hopes about starting pay in an era of steadily rising costs for housing, consumer goods and most everything else.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 29 May 2026
O’Ward will go into his seventh Indy 500 on Sunday not only harboring his own hopes of success, but also as part of McLaren’s bid to replicate its recent Formula 1 success.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harboring
Verb
-
And director Spike Lee was having the time of his life on top of a bus.—
Amina Kilpatrick,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
The decision set new limits on federal prosecution of gun owners who are targeted simply for having a history of drug use.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Families can choose suites accommodating up to five people (some with swim-up access) or two-bedroom villas with private pools and butler service for up to six.—
Chelsea Adams,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
The Law Commission concluded that the common law was flexible enough to recognise a distinct category of personal property capable of accommodating crypto tokens and other digital assets.—
Susie Violet Ward,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Harris’s maternal grandmother was an activist in India, sheltering women from abuse and leading education initiatives for them about contraceptives.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
-
Now, people have been crammed into around 40 percent of the space left to them — sheltering among broken buildings, rubble and mounting solid waste.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Canada is now tied with Switzerland atop Group B, with both teams holding four points after two matches.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
There are also the remnants of a statue thought to be of Silvanus, the Roman god of the countryside, holding a small animal in one hand and a basket adorned with birds in another.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The finished basement packs a remarkable amount of functionality into a single level, housing everything from a laundry area and gym to a sauna, wet bar, and wine cave.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
-
Instead of scrambling for shelter, Tran’s family will play host, housing an aunt and uncle who live across the street from the GKN plant.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Kids today are passionate about protecting the planet, and their eco-conscious habits can inspire families to make more sustainable choices.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
14 June 2026
-
Instead, Tim Cook and his team are overhauling its pricing strategy to increase revenue from its more affluent users with the luxury iPhone Ultra foldable while protecting the core iPhone 18 Pro audience.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Fairmont Kea Lani Wailea, Maui, Hawaii With 413 one-bedroom suites and 37 two- and three-bedroom two-story villas, Fairmont Kea Lani offers lodging options for families of all sizes.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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The mild weather draws visitors, and lodging prices tend to rise accordingly.—
Tamara Gane,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2026
Verb
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For years, state regulators had asked the Sheriff’s Office to stop triple-bunking people, a practice the department acknowledged was dangerous.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harboring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harboring. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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