hunkered (down)

Definition of hunkered (down)next
past tense of hunker (down)
as in crouched
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 hunkered (down)
Verb
  • The young defender then crouched down and touched the ball with both hands, stopping it on the edge of the six-yard box.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Jinsu Elhance, a geospatial data scientist with SPUN, crouched to hammer the 7-inch-long metal cylinder into the soil.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The opening act had started playing—a local band that never broke out, Sacagawea—but Russ and Cherry just huddled a little closer and kept talking.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Even if your space doesn’t already have a campsite vibe, the right furniture and accoutrements can make your guests feel like they’re huddled around the fire anywhere.
    Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 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

“Hunkered (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hunkered%20%28down%29. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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