1
as in ports
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in shelters
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in has
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in houses
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 protects
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 harbors
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Transporting that heating oil also has been disrupted along the Connecticut shoreline because harbors have temporarily frozen, forcing some home heating oil supplies to seek alternatives out of state, Herb said.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
That moved a number of boaters to bolt to other harbors, including Waukegan, where one official said the Waukegan Port District marina was gaining slip holders with North Point in flux.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In virtually all harbors, deepening to 40 to 50 feet instead costs hundreds of millions of dollars.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
And the rare earth elements clustered in southern Greenland, an ice-free area with access to roads, harbors and other crucial infrastructure, are of greater interest to mining companies.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
The institutions their parents rely on look less like safe harbors and more like obstacles.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Soon, many harbors in Greenland may become too shallow for ship traffic.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Just as with dumps on land, all kinds of waste was being disposed of in rivers, lakes and harbors.
—James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
The sublimely minimalist and peaceful gallery, La Laiterie, harbors an Yves Klein.
—Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Chicago’s restaurant industry harbors a few colorful characters, and their dealings aren’t always pretty.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for keeping the channel safe for navigation into and out of the side-by-side Oceanside and Camp Pendleton harbors.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Europa harbors a deep ocean beneath a shell of ice that's dozens of kilometers thick.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Every night, the boat docks, and the guests, each of whom harbors a dirty secret, are sent into a different port city to solve a puzzle, using clues that borrow elements of Sondheim’s treasure hunts.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
That’s fine by C, who harbors little feeling for our bumbling man anyway.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Unbeknownst to Sydney, Clara harbors a life-altering secret.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
Evans in particularly harbors deep resentment and anger.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Transporting that heating oil also has been disrupted along the Connecticut shoreline because harbors have temporarily frozen, forcing some home heating oil supplies to seek alternatives out of state, Herb said.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
That moved a number of boaters to bolt to other harbors, including Waukegan, where one official said the Waukegan Port District marina was gaining slip holders with North Point in flux.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
In virtually all harbors, deepening to 40 to 50 feet instead costs hundreds of millions of dollars.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
And the rare earth elements clustered in southern Greenland, an ice-free area with access to roads, harbors and other crucial infrastructure, are of greater interest to mining companies.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
The institutions their parents rely on look less like safe harbors and more like obstacles.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Soon, many harbors in Greenland may become too shallow for ship traffic.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Just as with dumps on land, all kinds of waste was being disposed of in rivers, lakes and harbors.
—James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
In Laura’s case, this mostly has to do with her two children, as teenage daughter Josie (Chloe East) harbors resentment and ends up communicating with her through dance.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
The sublimely minimalist and peaceful gallery, La Laiterie, harbors an Yves Klein.
—Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Chicago’s restaurant industry harbors a few colorful characters, and their dealings aren’t always pretty.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for keeping the channel safe for navigation into and out of the side-by-side Oceanside and Camp Pendleton harbors.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Europa harbors a deep ocean beneath a shell of ice that's dozens of kilometers thick.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Every night, the boat docks, and the guests, each of whom harbors a dirty secret, are sent into a different port city to solve a puzzle, using clues that borrow elements of Sondheim’s treasure hunts.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
That’s fine by C, who harbors little feeling for our bumbling man anyway.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
Unbeknownst to Sydney, Clara harbors a life-altering secret.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbors
Noun
-
Tugboats are small vessels with powerful engines that can help tow or push much larger vessels such as cargo ships through ports, harbors and channels, according to the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Heritage & Education Centre.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The presence of global automakers has also fostered export growth, with vehicles and parts shipped worldwide from Southeastern ports.—
Brian Moody,
AJC.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Outreach workers will give people living in encampments a week’s notice, then conduct daily outreach every day that week, attempting to get the homeless people into shelters or more permanent housing solutions, the mayor said.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Conditions worsened through the day on Tuesday, and evacuation shelters were set up in Woodward and Mooreland, with food provided by the American Red Cross.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bipartisan skepticism of corporate power comes and goes in America, but the latest wave has roots in the parallel streams flowing from the Great Financial Crisis, Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Paul has a reputation for taking collectibles to extreme levels and has spent millions to secure some of the rarest items ever produced, including NFTs - unique, verifiable digital assets traded on the blockchain.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Travelers interested in architecture and urban design have to spend at least an afternoon—if not a full day—in the Dallas Arts District, which reportedly houses the most buildings designed by Pritzker award-winning architects anywhere in the world.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The 33-room property also houses two restaurants, a cafe, a library, a ballroom, and a gift shop.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This violates the 4th Amendment, which protects people (including noncitizens) from unreasonable searches and seizures in their homes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The plant cell wall protects the carbs from dissolving in water.—
Michaeleen Doucleff,
NPR,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Sailing aboard a small ship with just 36 passengers, the voyage moves between islands and along remote coastlines, accessing sea caves, marine sanctuaries, and quiet anchorages that large cruise ships simply cannot reach.—
Paris Wilson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Dec. 2025
-
The beach clubs and anchorages rival those of the western Mediterranean—but without the same summer crush of crowds.—
Geoffrey Ravoire,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Manatee Season Central Florida from December through March When Florida waters start to cool in the winter, mammalian manatees make their way to warm refuges like freshwater springs and power plant outflows.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
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Nearby barrier islands like Sanibel, Cabbage Key, and Captiva add to the appeal, with scenic bike paths, wildlife refuges, and smaller communities that feel residential rather than resort-driven.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The sexy space holds just 20 seats at the bar, and definitely pop into the antique confessional in the back for a photo opp.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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A day after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he's now known, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the pride Sky Roberts holds for his sister is difficult to hide.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harbors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbors. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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