harbor 1 of 2

noun

ˈhär-bər How to pronounce harbor (audio)
Definition of harbornext
1
as in port
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

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2
as in refuge
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger seeking a harbor from the drenching rain, we unfortunately chose a bank where a robbery was taking place

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harbor

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to have
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to house
to provide with living quarters or shelter the woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shelter
to be or provide a shelter for the little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines

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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 harbor
Noun
Newcomer La Roqqa, with its rooftop lounge overlooking the harbor and lush mountains, offers another reason to visit the Argentario coast and archipelago, where pristine islands like Giglio dot the coast. — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026 The largest port in Europe stretches 24 strategic miles, from the historic flat-bottom barges in the city’s old inner harbor to the dunes and white windmills of the North Sea coast. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026
Verb
Sanitize Cutting Boards and Dishes Cutting boards, especially wooden boards, can harbor bacteria in tiny cuts and scratches. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 July 2026 Runway’s approach currently harbors an advantage for dynamic simulation, though. — ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for harbor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbor
  1. port
  2. refuge
  3. have
  4. house
  5. shelter
  6. anchorage
  7. sanctuary
  8. hold
Noun
  • Oil prices ticked up Wednesday after the US launched a fourth consecutive night of strikes on Iran and reimposed a blockade on ships going to and from Iranian ports.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Specialist teams were on standby to remove the container from the vessel, according to the port.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
Definition of port
Noun
  • Looking effortless on the beach is quite the art form–I, for one, often end up covered in a stubborn sunscreen and sand paste, hiding under a towel desperate for refuge from the sun.
    — Emma Spedding, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • Writing Bobby was a refuge, a place to cast off the daily complications of experiencing the world in a woman’s body.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of refuge
Verb
  • Critically, these sporting sanctions do not apply to 2027-28 if Newcastle are profitable on football earnings in 2026-27 and have an SCR ratio below 70 per cent throughout 2026.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Griffin Conine homered and Otto Lopez had two hits for the Marlins, who also lost their last three games before the break.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • An inmate housed in the medical unit at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center near Elk Grove died early Tuesday after deputies found the person unresponsive in a cell, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • The bespoke trunk, and the coveted trophy housed inside, will make their way to the pitch for the first time at the final game of the competition, which takes place next Sunday in New Jersey.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 14 July 2026
Definition of house
Verb
  • If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • The species faces many threats, including a reduction of underwater grasses that shelter young crabs, experts said.
    — Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 15 July 2026
Definition of shelter
Noun
  • According to data from container shipping market research firm Linerlytica, there were 156 ships waiting at anchorage at Shanghai and Ningbo on Tuesday, a significantly larger number than the 87 ships at berth.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 July 2026
  • During the summer, children learn to sail just beyond the anchorage.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of anchorage
Noun
  • The 39 days of the World Cup definitely had their moments of politics invading what was hoped to be a sporting sanctuary.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • The movement, which had roots in the medieval tradition of churches providing sanctuary for those fleeing persecution, was aimed at providing a safe haven for Central Americans running from political repression and violence in their home countries.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Definition of sanctuary
Verb
  • Adjacent to the tent, a small green building holds this year’s newest cannabis display and awards category, homegrown cultivation.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2026
  • That said, France were favourites in the last final and Argentina beat them, albeit by the finest of margins, recovering from the shock of Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick before holding their nerve to win the penalty shootout.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of hold

Browse Nearby Words

harbingers
harbor
harborage
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Cite this Entry

“Harbor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbor. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on harbor

Nglish: Translation of harbor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about harbor

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