hunkering (down)

present participle of hunker (down)
as in crouching
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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hunkering (down)
crouching
Verb
  • Joining the two this year is a 5-foot pussycat, which comes poised to pounce in a crouching position with adjustable glowing eyes.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In footage shared by the AP, the leopard was seen crouching on the ground next to the boy's vehicle before chasing the car and leaping at the window.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hunkering (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hunkering%20%28down%29. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!