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
China is home to the largest population of wild snow leopards in the world, according to the Snow Leopard Trust, with the country harboring the majority of the global population.
—
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The only problem with this whole Hollywood Cinderella story is that Simon is secretly harboring superpowers, a big no-no for the entertainment industry, and Trevor has some ulterior motives in befriending this real-life superhero who wants to play a superhero in a movie.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Apart from harboring specific opinions on what makes the best biscuit recipe, many Southerners are even particular about how to eat them.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
HOURglass who is harboring a dark secret about his past.
—Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Geopolitically weakened, Iran can’t expect its ally Russia to come to its aid, beyond shipping helicopters and harboring fleeing leaders, Carnegie Politika wrote.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
He was charged and taken into custody on a charge of harboring a juvenile runaway, the sheriff's office said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as best friends harboring feelings in Netflix's romantic comedy.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Remove the wrap in spring to allow for tree growth and to avoid harboring insects during the growing season.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The only problem with this whole Hollywood Cinderella story is that Simon is secretly harboring superpowers, a big no-no for the entertainment industry, and Trevor has some ulterior motives in befriending this real-life superhero who wants to play a superhero in a movie.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Apart from harboring specific opinions on what makes the best biscuit recipe, many Southerners are even particular about how to eat them.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
HOURglass who is harboring a dark secret about his past.
—Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Geopolitically weakened, Iran can’t expect its ally Russia to come to its aid, beyond shipping helicopters and harboring fleeing leaders, Carnegie Politika wrote.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
He was charged and taken into custody on a charge of harboring a juvenile runaway, the sheriff's office said.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Emily Bader and Tom Blyth star as best friends harboring feelings in Netflix's romantic comedy.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Remove the wrap in spring to allow for tree growth and to avoid harboring insects during the growing season.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harboring
Verb
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Rose emphasized the importance of the dig, as Chinese American cowboys were often overlooked in the historical record, despite having a big economic impact.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
If the right deal for a starting-level center is there for the Pacers right now, will the Pacers actually be buyers despite having the worst record in the NBA?—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The restroom restrictions were abruptly added to a bill that had been solely focused on prohibiting the Department of Revenue from accommodating gender marker change requests on state identification documents.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
30 Jan. 2026
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The airline's previous policy was remarkably accommodating—passengers who needed extra space could either purchase a second seat in advance and receive a full refund, or simply request an extra seat at the gate at no charge.—
Roger Dooley,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Joy invoking a memory of a home warm and wide and sheltering.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been sheltering in a fortified underground facility, according to Iran International.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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About a second after the agent holding Pretti’s weapon starts moving away, the officer in the black beanie appears to fire four shots at Pretti.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Produced by One Pulse Group, the global production team behind S20 America and EDC Korea, ‘KRAZY Super Concert’ is holding its first-ever United Arab Emirates concert at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The university will open a new residence hall in 2026, housing another 300 students on its 175-acre campus.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
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The 100,000-square-foot building formerly housing the clothing and home goods store is being transformed into multiple shops, with a new name and new facade, said John Ardigo, director of construction with Tourmaline Capital, a real estate development firm working on the project.—
Regina Elling,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Our students, families, and taxpayers deserve leaders who put the best interests of the community first, not individuals who appear focused on protecting one another instead of protecting the integrity of our school system.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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But many environmental experts, including Earthjustice senior attorney Mychal Ozaeta, say the proposal caters to the coal industry rather than protecting communities.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But teams are free to secure their own training sites and lodging facilities and some already have.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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Interviews with lodging operators, industry groups and travel consultants describe a system where constant price-cutting and opaque policies are eroding profitability, even as demand rebounds.—
Bloomberg,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The dispute — fueled by Fleming’s claims about Slusser’s health and academics and Slusser’s allegations about playing and rooming with a biological male — has triggered lawsuits and intense national scrutiny on the program.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
17 Dec. 2025
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Larry Bradley played outside linebacker for UC Davis from 1978-81, rooming with Ken O’Brien.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
14 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harboring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harboring. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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