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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harboring
Turkey has long accused the SDF of harboring ties to the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and has supported operations against the SDF directly and through its Syrian National Army allies.
—
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Proponents of the policy suggested that harboring such shameful secrets made federal workers vulnerable to blackmail by Soviet operatives (though nobody ever quite explained how a gay postal worker posed a threat to the nation).
—Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Unseen neighbor Their calculations suggest that the Large Magellanic Cloud must be harboring a black hole that's about 600,000 times the mass of our Sun.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 6 Mar. 2025
One of the reasons why education and awareness about TB are so important is that a person with latent TB may be unknowingly harboring the microorganism for years.
—Karen Dobos, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
All four suspects were charged with one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, transporting aliens in the United States, and harboring aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
The team in green struggled to pull things together in Episode 1, with some castaways harboring different opinions on how the game’s first three days should be played.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 26 Feb. 2025
This latest outburst is not the first time Knight has accused Snoop of harboring ill feelings toward the late rapper.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Lopez was charged with harboring a dangerous dog after the first incident and failing to secure and muzzle them after the second incident, according to the release.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Proponents of the policy suggested that harboring such shameful secrets made federal workers vulnerable to blackmail by Soviet operatives (though nobody ever quite explained how a gay postal worker posed a threat to the nation).
—Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Unseen neighbor Their calculations suggest that the Large Magellanic Cloud must be harboring a black hole that's about 600,000 times the mass of our Sun.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 6 Mar. 2025
One of the reasons why education and awareness about TB are so important is that a person with latent TB may be unknowingly harboring the microorganism for years.
—Karen Dobos, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2025
All four suspects were charged with one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, transporting aliens in the United States, and harboring aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
The team in green struggled to pull things together in Episode 1, with some castaways harboring different opinions on how the game’s first three days should be played.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 26 Feb. 2025
This latest outburst is not the first time Knight has accused Snoop of harboring ill feelings toward the late rapper.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Lopez was charged with harboring a dangerous dog after the first incident and failing to secure and muzzle them after the second incident, according to the release.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harboring
Verb
-
After having Dirk Nowitzki, a foreign superstar who stuck with the team for his entire career, the team was looking forward to another player following suit.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Not for this year’s draft, unfortunately, but having 2026 and 2027 picks from an aging Lightning squad isn’t a bad bet at all.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
That being said, other iPhone 13 Pro Max users will appreciate this bag’s accommodating nature.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Known as 504 plans, the popular system for accommodating students in school are geared for kids who do qualify for help under disability plans known as IEPs, or Individualized Education Programs.—
Kayla Jimenez,
USA TODAY,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
His supporters finally ended the siege hours later after one protester was shot dead by Capitol police as the mob tried to break into the House gallery where terrified lawmakers were sheltering.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Winter has now arrived, and hundreds of thousands are sheltering in tents near the sea.—
Compiled byDemocrat-Gazette stafffrom wire reports,
arkansasonline.com,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Any incumbent party would have had trouble holding onto the White House.—
Alex Thompson,
Axios,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Again, this man has been holding onto so much, and things have just been compacted for him.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
This process must ensure that risk management is aligned with current regulations, established company policies and industry best practices, thereby protecting security, privacy and corporate integrity.—
Susana Sierra,
Forbes,
26 Dec. 2024
-
But the brains of the hybrid mice developed fewer of these tangles and plaques, as if the sleep mutations were protecting the animals.—
Marla Broadfoot,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
For families, the biggest expense, by far, is lodging.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The Independent explains that in many cases, carriers ask travelers to arrange lodging themselves and submit receipts afterward for reimbursement, often citing logistical difficulties in making the arrangements directly.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harboring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harboring. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share