1
as in centers
a place or environment that favors the development of something
suspected that the elite private universities were a nest of antigovernment sentiments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in hideouts
a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others
headed back to her cozy nest in the mountains for a little rest and relaxation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 nests
An increasing number of bears had previously been observed spending more time on land during the summer, plundering birds’ nests in west Svalbard, and data had shown more adult females in east Svalbard spending more time in areas with bird colonies.
—
Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Valuable loot has been placed in bird’s nests and chimneys around the map.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
In addition, 14 new nesting territories were reported in 2019, with six of those new nests being successful in raising chicks.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
Robins often produce three broods a season, building their nests out of grass and mud.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Several nests of endangered tri-colored herons — considered a threatened species in Florida — were found on the island.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
The solitary species spend their days sleeping in shallow nests covered by debris such as grass and leaves.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Cable nests, piles of mail, and a plethora of small decorative objects can quickly overwhelm a space.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026
The birds attempted a modern-day record of 158 nests in 2025, which is an increase of 17% over 2022.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Valuable loot has been placed in bird’s nests and chimneys around the map.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
In addition, 14 new nesting territories were reported in 2019, with six of those new nests being successful in raising chicks.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
Robins often produce three broods a season, building their nests out of grass and mud.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
Several nests of endangered tri-colored herons — considered a threatened species in Florida — were found on the island.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
The solitary species spend their days sleeping in shallow nests covered by debris such as grass and leaves.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Cable nests, piles of mail, and a plethora of small decorative objects can quickly overwhelm a space.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026
The birds attempted a modern-day record of 158 nests in 2025, which is an increase of 17% over 2022.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nests
Noun
-
Many other demonstrations were planned for students and others to gather at city centers, statehouses and churches across the country.—
KIMBERLEE KRUESI,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
About 80 warming centers were opened, and National Guard troops delivered supplies by truck and helicopter.—
Kristin M. Hall,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Taiwo Adebayo, a researcher specializing in Boko Haram at the Institute for Security Studies, said the army began an offensive last month, proactively moving into hideouts to engage the insurgents.—
Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Pakistan's security forces have raided two militant hideouts in the country's southwest, killing 41 insurgents in separate gun battles, the military said Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The University of Geneva researcher also explained why direct collapse black holes and their nurseries aren't found in the local, modern-day universe, saying that the conditions needed include a lack of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In desperate situations, the nurseries spray chemical insecticides twice a week.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some scientific disciplines have become hotbeds for slop.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The second decade of the 20th century had seen San Diego become one of the world’s hotbeds for innovation and development in the nascent field of manned flight.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Shia Islam’s clerical structure has historically been decentralized, with different ayatollahs, seminaries, and religious networks operating with considerable autonomy.—
Narges Bajoghli,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
At the heart of the unrest is a long-standing exemption that allows ultra-Orthodox men who study full-time in religious seminaries to avoid military service — a policy that many Israelis view as deeply unfair.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Anyone who’s ever done ballet will know that many studios are breeding grounds for body image issues.—
Refinery29 Staff,
Refinery29,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Miller argues that universities are breeding grounds for ideological intolerance, laying blame on Marxist ideas.—
Mitch Picasso , Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Now the tomatoes are heirloom from hothouses, and unfortunately, my tomato slices were mushy.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nests. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
