hunker (down)

as in to crouch
to lie low with the limbs close to the body had to hunker down so no one would see him behind the gate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hunker (down)
Verb
  • The exhibition features his maps and sullied backpack, toothbrush, bar of soap, and survival goods, along with photos of him sleeping on park benches, crouching on the banks of the Hudson in front of ice floes, and haunting the city.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
  • After a brief struggle for traction, the robot regained control by crouching slightly, mimicking a human posture to exert force.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Longtime residents can’t forget his iconic image of flamingos huddling in the bathroom for safety against monstrous Hurricane Andrew in August 1992.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Senate Republicans huddled on Friday afternoon after Schumer’s floor speech but seemed to see no immediate path forward.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
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.

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“Hunker (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hunker%20%28down%29. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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