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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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
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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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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
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
In virtually all harbors, deepening to 40 to 50 feet instead costs hundreds of millions of dollars.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
The institutions their parents rely on look less like safe harbors and more like obstacles.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Gibbs still harbors a major grudge from their New Orleans bar encounter when meeting Pride again on an NIS 1990s case.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Keke Palmer harbors a touch of jealousy toward her 3-year-old son.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
The sublimely minimalist and peaceful gallery, La Laiterie, harbors an Yves Klein.
—Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 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
Noun
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
In virtually all harbors, deepening to 40 to 50 feet instead costs hundreds of millions of dollars.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
The institutions their parents rely on look less like safe harbors and more like obstacles.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them all in the tragic accident.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Gibbs still harbors a major grudge from their New Orleans bar encounter when meeting Pride again on an NIS 1990s case.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Keke Palmer harbors a touch of jealousy toward her 3-year-old son.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
The sublimely minimalist and peaceful gallery, La Laiterie, harbors an Yves Klein.
—Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbors
Noun
-
The details of the deal that could cover ports, energy and tourism are not known but could include a relaxation of restrictions on Americans traveling to the Caribbean island.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
In this setup, two propellers operate simultaneously, improving thrust and maneuverability for massive cargo vessels navigating ports and narrow channels.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The ordinance grants the city manager unilateral authority to approve contracts worth up to $5 million when they are related to creating a temporary shelters for the homeless.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
-
While the data showed just more than 120,000 people were listed as being housed in shelters set up across the country, Baban said many were sleeping in tents on the streets of Beirut or in parked cars.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Anyone who has watched the last decade of merger mania in Hollywood has good reason to be skeptical.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The 21-year-old has already done the same outside Balmain and Acne Studios that day, and has plans later to stand outside Rick Owens.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 17e features a notch at the top that houses the TrueDepth camera and Face ID components.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The same facility also houses deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and hip-hop artist Tekashi 6ix9ine, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez.—
Adam Reiss,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Speech — Intimidation as censorship The First Amendment protects disputable speech, not agreeable.—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Competitive elections strengthen democracy, and state leaders should reexamine a system that protects party insiders and sidelines would-be challengers long before voters get their say.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Aire Ancient Baths A subterranean theater of candlelit pools and vaulted brick, Aire remains one of the city’s few strictly phone-and-camera-free refuges.—
Amy Louise Bailey,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
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This is the sort of ecological abundance that has long attracted travelers to the Amazon River, South America's liquid spine and one of the last refuges for jaguars in the world.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The hydrogel acts like a containment layer that holds bacteria close to the electrode while allowing liquids to flow through.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
For girls, Cheryl Miller still holds the most points scored at 41 when Riverside Poly won Division I in 1982 at the Oakland Coliseum over Los Gatos 77-44.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harbors.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbors. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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