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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 harbors
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Itineraries include Alaska, the Mediterranean, Croatia’s secluded harbors and Asia-Pacific.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
The state port authority has argued the project is existentially necessary to keep the Wilmington port competitive in an era of larger ships, heavier loads and deeper harbors.
—Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026
Today, the towns of Vis and Komiza house harbors, stone houses, narrow streets, and a coastal lifestyle known locally as pomalo.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Yet, hidden between luxe private island resorts and harbors for mega-yachts, the tiny island of Mayreau (pronounced my-row) is a blissful exception, having escaped almost any development.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
But the glory days wouldn't last, and Galaxidi, a town with a population of 1,700 people, lost its contact with the outside world, with traffic to its two harbors shrinking and no road connection to the rest of the country, hemmed in by looming mountains.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
But the glory days wouldn’t last, and Galaxidi, a town with a population of 1,700 people, lost its contact with the outside world, with traffic to its two harbors shrinking and no road connection to the rest of the country, hemmed in by looming mountains.
—Lefteris Pitarakis, Chicago Tribune, 23 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
Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Your domestic zone harbors the Aries New Moon, calling for practical updates that restore comfort, one step at a time.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
The first third of director Ben Wheatley’s gory black comedy introduces us to Ulysses and takes us on his journey through a small town that harbors a link to Japan.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
Bombshell reporting by none other than the Daily Mail revealed that Bryon Noem harbors a voracious appetite for the voluptuous things in life.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
Ownership Works harbors the ambitious goal of achieving $20 billion in employee wealth by 2030.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Coachella Valley harbors surprises too, particularly in the strip malls farther down California State Route 111 where places specializing in Filipino, Peruvian, Argentinian or even Balkan cooking can thrive.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
There’s an implication early on that Pumpkin harbors her own secrets, but the portrait remains too blank to sell her detachment as a riddle worth solving.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
On the Circle of Hoof side, reluctant leader Hunter Greene harbors secrets about the fate of the group’s vanished co-founder Sebastian, whose unseen presence looms over every ritual and gathering.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Cargo that would have moved through Dubai’s Jebel Ali — the Middle East’s most connected container port, which is now largely cut off from global freighters — is now entering through smaller harbors in Fujairah and Oman, then moving overland.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Itineraries include Alaska, the Mediterranean, Croatia’s secluded harbors and Asia-Pacific.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
The state port authority has argued the project is existentially necessary to keep the Wilmington port competitive in an era of larger ships, heavier loads and deeper harbors.
—Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026
Today, the towns of Vis and Komiza house harbors, stone houses, narrow streets, and a coastal lifestyle known locally as pomalo.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Yet, hidden between luxe private island resorts and harbors for mega-yachts, the tiny island of Mayreau (pronounced my-row) is a blissful exception, having escaped almost any development.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
But the glory days wouldn't last, and Galaxidi, a town with a population of 1,700 people, lost its contact with the outside world, with traffic to its two harbors shrinking and no road connection to the rest of the country, hemmed in by looming mountains.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
But the glory days wouldn’t last, and Galaxidi, a town with a population of 1,700 people, lost its contact with the outside world, with traffic to its two harbors shrinking and no road connection to the rest of the country, hemmed in by looming mountains.
—Lefteris Pitarakis, Chicago Tribune, 23 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
Verb
The colony harbors two distinct types on the upper portion of the rachis.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Your domestic zone harbors the Aries New Moon, calling for practical updates that restore comfort, one step at a time.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
The first third of director Ben Wheatley’s gory black comedy introduces us to Ulysses and takes us on his journey through a small town that harbors a link to Japan.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
Bombshell reporting by none other than the Daily Mail revealed that Bryon Noem harbors a voracious appetite for the voluptuous things in life.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
Ownership Works harbors the ambitious goal of achieving $20 billion in employee wealth by 2030.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
Coachella Valley harbors surprises too, particularly in the strip malls farther down California State Route 111 where places specializing in Filipino, Peruvian, Argentinian or even Balkan cooking can thrive.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
There’s an implication early on that Pumpkin harbors her own secrets, but the portrait remains too blank to sell her detachment as a riddle worth solving.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
On the Circle of Hoof side, reluctant leader Hunter Greene harbors secrets about the fate of the group’s vanished co-founder Sebastian, whose unseen presence looms over every ritual and gathering.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbors
Noun
-
Currently, there are two major cruise ports serving New York City as well as one in Baltimore.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Tasnim said there would be no talks while the US continues to impose a maritime blockade on Iranian ports.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At least 800 evacuations have taken place in the county and five shelters have opened, as the fire threatens 300 more homes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.—
Jeff Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
His posts reflect those realities, from running to shelters to supporting friends whose family members are serving on the front lines.—
Ariella Noveck,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Margaux has a toggle closure, while Quince’s bag seals with a zipper, which provides extra security.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has a shot at doing the same.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Morgan Hall houses approximately 1,200 students and serves as a key residential hall for the school.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The plant houses 14 rumbling pumps in two football-field sized wings and is one of the most powerful water lifting systems in the world.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The First Amendment protects the press precisely because a free press protects democracy.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Apr. 2026
-
But unionized workers aren’t the only ones Gloria protects.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As for Mitan, the yacht will now spend seven to eight months cruising south towards Mexico, calling at multiple anchorages along the way.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Brilliant blue waves meet a sensational crescent of white sand at Salt Whistle Bay, one of the most stunning anchorages in the southeastern Caribbean.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What’s astonishing, though, is that at the birth of urban parkland, these refuges from urban chaos were designed with such enduring sophistication.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Why perpetuate this problem in city parks — our best refuges from the danger, noise and congestion of city streets?—
Jon Orcutt,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another girl, Donna Jo, apparently naked on a back-yard lawn, holds several small, round pieces of fruit, still on their leafy branch, clasped to her chest like a trophy.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The Indian government’s chief economic adviser expressed confidence Friday that the world’s sixth-largest economy can weather the energy-price shock caused by the Iran war if the ceasefire holds.—
Chris Wellisz,
semafor.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harbors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbors. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
