refuge 1 of 2

Definition of refugenext

refuge

2 of 2

verb

as in to shelter
to be or provide a shelter for a nation with a long, honorable history of refuging political asylum seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 refuge
Noun
Crucially, because the Huayuan site postdates the Sinsk event and represents deeper parts of the ocean, the collection indicates that deep-water environments were a refuge for organisms during mass extinction. Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 1 May 2026 That day, six medium-sized speedboats, belonging to drug traffickers or smugglers, had sought refuge from a storm among the breakwaters and docks of the port. Óscar Martínez, The Dial, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
For one, an evacuation was not necessarily a path to refuge in the United States, as many expected. Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 Targeted sanctions against the Kremlin and other state actors must be accompanied by support for those displaced by war, and the right to refuge must not be conditioned on one’s profession or degree of education. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 See All Example Sentences for refuge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuge
Noun
  • Wu’s office said the veterans department will continue to provide core services to all qualifying veterans and provide financial and medical assistance to qualifying veterans and their dependents with limited incomes for food, shelter, clothing, and medical care, as required by state law.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 7 May 2026
  • This rock hollowed out by erosion and walled up with stones was likely used by shepherds as a shelter near the historic Sardinian village of Tempio Pausania.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Even without federal limits on chemicals like PFAS, states have the authority to protect public health and the environment.
    DYLAN JACKSON, ABC News, 6 May 2026
  • Doing so, officials say, helps protect not only those rolling up their sleeves but those who cannot get vaccinated, such as the very youngest children.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • The whole thing feels more like a seaside sanctuary for people who’ve outgrown the noise.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The results leave St Pauli in 16th and in the relative sanctuary of the play-off place, with Wolfsburg one point behind and Heidenheim still bottom, four points further back.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The amenities a property actually offers — not the marketing language — separate a true luxury wellness retreat from a spa weekend in disguise.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
  • Without that closing piece, even the most luxurious retreat risks becoming a one-time experience rather than a lasting reset.
    Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Other communities, such as Malibu, have developed ordinances to reduce glare and artificial light, as has Joshua Tree National Park, a star-gazing haven that is designated an International Dark Sky Park.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
  • The Vaile Mansion, a 31-room Victorian haven anchoring Independence’s historic district, changed hands three times before its final owner donated it to the city in 1983.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refuge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuge. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on refuge

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster