refuge 1 of 2

noun

ˈre-(ˌ)fyüj How to pronounce refuge (audio)
Definition of refugenext
as in shelter
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger hunting is strictly forbidden in the wildlife refuge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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
Oscar Del Pozo | Afp | Getty Images People displaced by the forest fire find refuge at the Parc des expositions de Bordeaux, in Bordeaux, south-western France, on 27 July, 2026. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 27 July 2026 In 1974, Congress designated 350,000 acres of the refuge as a wilderness area, the nation’s highest level of protection for an ecosystem. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026
Verb
Migratory birds will also be attracted to the hedges and trees, which will give them refuge on their journeys. — Karen Lubeck, Town & Country, 8 Nov. 2022 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 See All Example Sentences for refuge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuge
  1. shelter
  2. protect
  3. sanctuary
  4. retreat
  5. haven
Noun
  • Consider helping at an animal shelter, mentoring someone, working with a local arts organization, supporting a food pantry, or volunteering at community events.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
  • Nearly 19,000 homes were still without electricity and more than 9,000 people were staying in the roughly 400 shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air conditioning.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Definition of shelter
Verb
  • That’s why the systems are built with redundancy — typically to protect against natural disasters, cut cables and the like, but now for attacks, as well.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • From as early as April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of ensuring that the country’s energy and infrastructure facilities are fully operational and reliably protected for the next heating season.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of protect
Noun
  • Maurice, who took a job with a cat sanctuary in Washington after leaving the county, did not return requests for comment.
    — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Physical restoration requires mechanical tools, but true customer devotion demands emotional sanctuary.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of sanctuary
Noun
  • Infantino attempted to frame his retreat as evidence of responsive leadership, arguing that unity must take precedence over division.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • While past British leaders have spent weekends in their local constituencies, or at the prime minister’s official Chequers country retreat, none in living memory has had a large-scale office outside London.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreat
Noun
  • Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park was transformed into a soccer haven for fans around the globe, welcoming more than 500,000 guests and averaging more than 27,000 per day.
    — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 27 July 2026
  • The Bloomsbury Group, the 20th-century group of writers and painters renowned for rejecting strict Victorian conventions, is prime example of this; their home, a haven of mismatched color, prints, and folly tucked into every room.
    — ALEX EAGLE, Vogue, 26 July 2026
Definition of haven

Browse Nearby Words

refrozen
refuge
refuged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refuge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuge. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on refuge

Nglish: Translation of refuge for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All