as in doors
a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened
watertight hatches provided access through the ship's bulkheads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 hatches
Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
The 2021 year-class was one of the strongest on record, Skoog says, and combined with a slightly above average year-class in 2022, the abundance of smaller fish could have suppressed the hatches in 2023 and 2024.
—Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
Netflix is battening down the hatches to prepare for a sudden deluge of streaming viewers.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Nov. 2025
When one of the eggs hatches, Gaia forms a magical bond that soon draws her into an exciting yet dangerous adventure.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
Time to batten down the hatches.
—NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
But despite the sentiment that all is well in the economy, investors are flocking to the safe-haven asset of gold—usually a sign that traders are battening down the hatches.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
The group set out in the park to investigate chittering sounds that turned out to be a couple of white-breasted nut hatches.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
Separately, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also displays the hatches from the Apollo 1 command module that prevented three astronauts from escaping a fire in the capsule during a 1967 test on the launch pad.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Robert Lang, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
In the holiday rom-com, a single mother (Alexandra Breckenridge) hatches a scheme to dress up as an old man and get a job at an upscale ski resort to snag her daughter discount snowboard lessons.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
There’s Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), queen of the female gang the Forty Elephants, who’s sick of stealing from the poor and hatches a scheme to yoink valuables from the Queen of England.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The larvae then hatches from the eggs and burrows into tissue of animals to feed on them.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2025
After years of being haunted by his past, Holliday hatches a plan to redeem his failing career by walking on to another football team disguised as an oddball named Chad Powers.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
News of Coward’s impending attendance, spread by the area’s servants, results in a triumphant event in which Coward not only sings a song but also, upon hearing of Mary’s divorce, hatches the plot for Private Lives.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Hijinks ensue when the Dude’s best friend hatches a plan to keep the wealthier Lebowski’s ransom money for the Dude and himself.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
Rather, his team battened down the hatches, closed the first half on a 7-0 run,and never looked back en route to a 57-48 victory over West Memphis in the 5A-East Conference opener for each team.
—Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
The 2021 year-class was one of the strongest on record, Skoog says, and combined with a slightly above average year-class in 2022, the abundance of smaller fish could have suppressed the hatches in 2023 and 2024.
—Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
Netflix is battening down the hatches to prepare for a sudden deluge of streaming viewers.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Nov. 2025
When one of the eggs hatches, Gaia forms a magical bond that soon draws her into an exciting yet dangerous adventure.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
Time to batten down the hatches.
—NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
But despite the sentiment that all is well in the economy, investors are flocking to the safe-haven asset of gold—usually a sign that traders are battening down the hatches.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
The group set out in the park to investigate chittering sounds that turned out to be a couple of white-breasted nut hatches.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025
Separately, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also displays the hatches from the Apollo 1 command module that prevented three astronauts from escaping a fire in the capsule during a 1967 test on the launch pad.
—Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
In desperation, Yoo hatches a chilling yet darkly logical plan.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
In the holiday rom-com, a single mother (Alexandra Breckenridge) hatches a scheme to dress up as an old man and get a job at an upscale ski resort to snag her daughter discount snowboard lessons.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
There’s Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), queen of the female gang the Forty Elephants, who’s sick of stealing from the poor and hatches a scheme to yoink valuables from the Queen of England.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The larvae then hatches from the eggs and burrows into tissue of animals to feed on them.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2025
After years of being haunted by his past, Holliday hatches a plan to redeem his failing career by walking on to another football team disguised as an oddball named Chad Powers.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
News of Coward’s impending attendance, spread by the area’s servants, results in a triumphant event in which Coward not only sings a song but also, upon hearing of Mary’s divorce, hatches the plot for Private Lives.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
Hijinks ensue when the Dude’s best friend hatches a plan to keep the wealthier Lebowski’s ransom money for the Dude and himself.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hatches
Noun
-
January 20 – February 18 You’re allowed to close your doors — not forever, but for the moment.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The installments were supposed to be used for various projects, including a $30,000 payment for windows and doors.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By then, showrunner-auteur Lear had parlayed the All in the Family base camp into a virtual multiverse of spin-offs (Maude, The Jeffersons) and spawns (Sanford and Son).—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Dec. 2025
-
What sets the game apart is its AI engine, which spawns countless non-player characters (NPCs) with unique storylines and characteristics.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Per its Sotheby's auction listing, scrolls of diamonds are interrupted by sparkling floral motifs, while a romantic heart emblem sits at the center.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The city, which sits just north of Indianapolis, was ranked the best place to live in the Midwest, according to a report from Livability, which focuses on small-to-medium sized cities.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Veteran model Eva Herzigova is pictured in a sculptural skirt suit, while Liu Wen broods in a puffy leather bomber jacket.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
The other is something more resembling that first one’s exact opposite—a dark and broody sipper, punchy and robust, liquid mollification reflecting that the best of the season is now officially behind us, and all that lays ahead is the long frigid slog toward spring.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Cartagena, Colombia, extending into the Caribbean Sea, is a wholly Latin American, wholly Caribbean, and even wholly African destination all at once—and its rich history lays the groundwork for one of the most enchanting cities in the region.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wide receiver Keon Coleman, who apparently doesn’t know how to use the app that sets alarms, has been benched by McDermott for three games and for the first series of another game.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
One aspect that sets this group apart from others is its focus on civic engagement and educating members on local government.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hatches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hatches. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share