hunker (down)

Definition of hunker (down)next
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
  • Kunkel, a freelance journalist at a protest outside an immigration detention center in Chicago on September 26, was crouched behind a van when an agent took aim from a safe perch behind a chain link fence.
    Bob Ortega, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
  • People stood, crouched and leaned against cars, eating shawarma, nihari burgers, kunafa and stretchy ice cream.
    Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • With bombs raining down on Iraq, A-listers huddled with their teams to figure out the right note to strike.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The final days of our ordeal blurred into a nightmare of torment, wandering while daylight lasted and huddling under open shelters at night, shaking with cold.
    Elwyn "Bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
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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Cite this Entry

“Hunker (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hunker%20%28down%29. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.

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