as in anchorages
a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships
the cruise ship stops at each port for one night only
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Recent Examples of ports
Each Travelive guest receives VIP assistance in airports and ports – being met at jetway, assisted with luggage and breezed through security with no waiting.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Ecuador is struggling to contain drug violence as rival cartels battle for control of coastal ports used to smuggle cocaine to the United States.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Best Nightlife The Port of Call and Dive Inspired by ports around the world, The Port of Call crafts exquisite cocktails in its nautical bar—and a trip to Mystic isn’t complete without trying 2024 James Beard Award best chef finalist Reneé Touponce’s beef empanadas.
—Morgan Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
Iran has very limited overland routes for exporting its oil, with far less capacity to use ports outside the currently dangerous Persian Gulf than Saudi Arabia (which has the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea) or the United Arab Emirates (which has Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman).
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
For decades, that meant roads, ports and other traditional projects.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
The team bought uniforms and Librandi started making deals with insurance companies, regional ports, local manufacturers, and tourism boards to provide emergency response for their staff.
—Elizabeth Germino, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Countries with ports on the Persian Gulf now produce a fourth of all the world’s anhydrous ammonia.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
This reduces the number of vessels that can transport goods between American ports, limiting shipping options and boosting costs.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Ecuador is struggling to contain drug violence as rival cartels battle for control of coastal ports used to smuggle cocaine to the United States.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Best Nightlife The Port of Call and Dive Inspired by ports around the world, The Port of Call crafts exquisite cocktails in its nautical bar—and a trip to Mystic isn’t complete without trying 2024 James Beard Award best chef finalist Reneé Touponce’s beef empanadas.
—Morgan Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026
Iran has very limited overland routes for exporting its oil, with far less capacity to use ports outside the currently dangerous Persian Gulf than Saudi Arabia (which has the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea) or the United Arab Emirates (which has Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman).
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
For decades, that meant roads, ports and other traditional projects.
—Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
The team bought uniforms and Librandi started making deals with insurance companies, regional ports, local manufacturers, and tourism boards to provide emergency response for their staff.
—Elizabeth Germino, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
Countries with ports on the Persian Gulf now produce a fourth of all the world’s anhydrous ammonia.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
This reduces the number of vessels that can transport goods between American ports, limiting shipping options and boosting costs.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ports
Noun
-
Brilliant blue waves meet a sensational crescent of white sand at Salt Whistle Bay, one of the most stunning anchorages in the southeastern Caribbean.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Sailing aboard a small ship with just 36 passengers, the voyage moves between islands and along remote coastlines, accessing sea caves, marine sanctuaries, and quiet anchorages that large cruise ships simply cannot reach.—
Paris Wilson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The state port authority has argued the project is existentially necessary to keep the Wilmington port competitive in an era of larger ships, heavier loads and deeper harbors.—
Patrick Sisson,
Scientific American,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Today, the towns of Vis and Komiza house harbors, stone houses, narrow streets, and a coastal lifestyle known locally as pomalo.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
More and more, however, even entry-level robot vacuums come with docks that empty those dirt cups automatically, keeping the dirt in tanks or bags that can hold weeks’ worth of cleaning jobs.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Between damp docks, muddy trails, and the occasional drizzle, they were quickly soaked and scuffed.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ports.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ports. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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