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
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Relevance
2
as in refuges
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
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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 shelters
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
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Recent Examples of harbors
Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Friesen, who studies the coevolution of plants and rhizobia, writes that just one gram of plant tissue harbors between 10 million and 10 billion endophytic bacteria alone.
—Anna Marija Helt, JSTOR Daily, 17 Sep. 2025
Then think of the pastel-colored houses that cling to rugged cliffs and narrow, winding alleyways—carruggi—that descend steeply to turquoise harbors.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The Sebastian Vizcaino expedition in 1602 was tasked with finding safe harbors in Alta California for Spanish ships returning from the Philippines.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Much of the San Diego County coastline is maintained with sand taken from lagoons, harbors and rivers.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2025
Right now, jobs like nursing and equipment sterilization are seen as safe harbors from automation and recessionary impacts.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
Because there's virtually no ports natural harbors in West Africa.
—Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2025
The country has already dredged up 70 percent of China's total 2,300 acres and, like China, has begun to add defensive structures, airfields and harbors at several features.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Give me a playoff big enough that Vanderbilt harbors hope of qualifying on the heels of a dream season, but restricted enough that Clemson's chances are appropriately underwater after three losses through four games.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2025
Of course, manual mode sometimes comes in handy while off-roading, but the Quartermaster never harbors hopes of high-speed dune charging.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025
Cathedral Rock offers an iconic hike and, according to believers in healing energy portals (a major contingent in Sedona), harbors a powerful vortex.
—New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Maybrook, a seemingly perfect town, harbors a darkness that runs deeper than its charming façade.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Fruit left on the ground creates a mess and harbors pests and pathogens over winter.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025
But Maita harbors hopes of getting some action under center.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
The close interior harbors mold and mildew in the cupboards and single bathroom.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
But not all super polluters are not all power plants or oil refineries — for example, in Boston as well as Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, domestic shipping in and out of harbors qualifies as a super polluter.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Friesen, who studies the coevolution of plants and rhizobia, writes that just one gram of plant tissue harbors between 10 million and 10 billion endophytic bacteria alone.
—Anna Marija Helt, JSTOR Daily, 17 Sep. 2025
Then think of the pastel-colored houses that cling to rugged cliffs and narrow, winding alleyways—carruggi—that descend steeply to turquoise harbors.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The Sebastian Vizcaino expedition in 1602 was tasked with finding safe harbors in Alta California for Spanish ships returning from the Philippines.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Much of the San Diego County coastline is maintained with sand taken from lagoons, harbors and rivers.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2025
Right now, jobs like nursing and equipment sterilization are seen as safe harbors from automation and recessionary impacts.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025
Because there's virtually no ports natural harbors in West Africa.
—Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2025
The country has already dredged up 70 percent of China's total 2,300 acres and, like China, has begun to add defensive structures, airfields and harbors at several features.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Benicio del Toro’s Sensei oversees a sprawling apartment building that harbors refugees.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Give me a playoff big enough that Vanderbilt harbors hope of qualifying on the heels of a dream season, but restricted enough that Clemson's chances are appropriately underwater after three losses through four games.
—Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2025
Of course, manual mode sometimes comes in handy while off-roading, but the Quartermaster never harbors hopes of high-speed dune charging.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2025
Cathedral Rock offers an iconic hike and, according to believers in healing energy portals (a major contingent in Sedona), harbors a powerful vortex.
—New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Maybrook, a seemingly perfect town, harbors a darkness that runs deeper than its charming façade.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Fruit left on the ground creates a mess and harbors pests and pathogens over winter.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025
But Maita harbors hopes of getting some action under center.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025
The close interior harbors mold and mildew in the cupboards and single bathroom.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbors
Noun
-
Given their historic links to trade, Chinatowns often occupied downtown locations close to busy ports or densely populated urban centers.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
-
From data centers to airlines, commodities to videogames, electric cars to the ports and shipping lines used to move them and other goods around the world, a handful of funds fueled by oil sales are increasingly touching the lives of people all over the world.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some state parks allow hunting, but national wildlife refuges are closed to hunting unless expressly permitted.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Many of these refuges have since been obliterated.—
Ghada Abdulfattah,
The Atlantic,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The expectation was that rates could move more decisively on Friday, when the monthly employment report was set for release, but the government shutdown now has that in limbo.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Backlogs out of Hong Kong, which houses the largest cargo airport on earth, are expected to persist through mid-October after Typhoon Ragasa caused widespread flight cancellations across the region and South China.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The Walker-Stone House is a historic structure downtown that houses the Folk School of Fayetteville.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At 8,614 feet, the Mackinac Bridge is still the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Several small craft broken away from moorings, especially in unprotected anchorages.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
That includes the golf course, pickleball courts, disc golf, playgrounds, trails, shelters, sports fields, and the Stapleton Pavilion.—
Jolene Almendarez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Sep. 2025
-
In 5-year-old Tim Hryshchuk’s new school, the shelters have been converted into makeshift classrooms, so that time spent underground won’t be wasted.—
Daria Tarasova-Markina,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Smotrich heads the Religious Zionism party, which holds seven seats in parliament and is in coalition with Netanyahu’s government.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
There’s even a little Kurosawa — from all the stages of his career — in the feudal set-up; while the decadent emperor Kisra (Ben Kingsley) holds court, his enemies are banished.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The suite accommodates six adults and a child but can be expanded through seven connecting suites for up to 20 guests.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The boot has a low, suede upper, but a thick rubber outsole that accommodates rougher, wetter environments than the thinner outsole on the Classic Minis.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harbors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbors. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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