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
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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
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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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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of harbors
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
Known as the City of Sails, Auckland’s life centers on its two harbors.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
Each day, harbors and observatories would raise and lower a metal ball at the same time to allow sailors to synchronize their instruments.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent rains mean water levels in harbors are already higher, and there’s a chance of overspill during early-morning hours that could make a mess of Pacific Coast Highway in low-lying areas such as Sunset Beach.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
The mayor's version of the budget did not increase property taxes, but did raise rates for such things as cloud computing and software licenses, and for boat docking in Chicago harbors.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
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
But the desert harbors infinite quick tricks, and as the terrain dried while the temperature soared, weeks of cumulative fatigue set in.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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
Known as the City of Sails, Auckland’s life centers on its two harbors.
—Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
Each day, harbors and observatories would raise and lower a metal ball at the same time to allow sailors to synchronize their instruments.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent rains mean water levels in harbors are already higher, and there’s a chance of overspill during early-morning hours that could make a mess of Pacific Coast Highway in low-lying areas such as Sunset Beach.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
The mayor's version of the budget did not increase property taxes, but did raise rates for such things as cloud computing and software licenses, and for boat docking in Chicago harbors.
—Lauren Victory, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
But the desert harbors infinite quick tricks, and as the terrain dried while the temperature soared, weeks of cumulative fatigue set in.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbors
Noun
-
For Connecticut — where state leaders have invested heavily in ports, transmission infrastructure, and clean energy partnerships to drive both economic growth and emissions reductions — the shift raises urgent questions about what comes next.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Finally, pollution from ports along with potential spills can degrade the health of these animals and weaken their immune systems.—
Rodrigo Tardin,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
National organizations like the American Red Cross deployed more than 1,600 disaster workers and opened warming shelters in two dozen states.—
Cat Ward,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Montgomery County During a Code Blue, the county has additional resources for people experiencing homelessness, including access to temporary warming shelters, food and clothing.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This previously-$30 set of Merino wool socks already has an excellent value, but the new price point is even sweeter.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The bakery has two trailers on the property that are used for housing and as a test kitchen for the bakers.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This slab of a sandwich houses everything good under one bready roof.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
And, for many of us, that's the cabinet that houses our reusable water bottles and mugs.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Grassley has argued that the practice protects checks and balances, encourages the White House to consult with senators, and prevents administrations of either party from jamming through prosecutors and judges who lack local support.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The settlement agreement protects the anonymity of the affected youth and families while securing the withdrawal of the government’s demands for their medical records — and those of their fellow patients, Silver said.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Another priority was to create little refuges for herself.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Women's skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Women’s skiing at the Olympics will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harbors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbors. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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