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

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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

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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
The preacher sought refuge from a menacing bear by climbing a tree. — Alfred H. Moses, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026 The dance floor can be both refuge and revolution, and throughout Latin America, women are leading the sounds and scenes committed to sweaty hedonism. — Richard Villegas, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 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
  • Officials were helping more than 50 people in temporary shelters, del Pilar said.
    — JAIMIE DING, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • And in May, residents in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius were told to seek shelter after a drone strayed into Lithuanian airspace.
    — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of shelter
Verb
  • Rowling has been staunchly critical of transgender rights activists, funding legal efforts to protect women’s rights and penning X/Twitter posts that are considered to be attacks by the trans community.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Go rebound the basketball, go protect the rim, be a big big for us.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of protect
Noun
  • Zoo manager Jocelyn Smeltzer said the group wanted to invest in improvements that would benefit the sanctuary for years to come.
    — James Taylor, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • With a foreword by fashion designer Jenna Lyons, the book showcases a variety of distinct residential projects, from city penthouses and lakeside retreats to coastal sanctuaries, culminating in their first luxury yacht project.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sanctuary
Noun
  • After decades of neglect and subsequent disrepair, it was recently restored into a luxurious one-bedroom retreat that honors its historic roots while embracing contemporary amenities like a king bed, an en-suite bathroom, and a sleek living area.
    — Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
  • An industry in retreat In 2026, hybrids and all-electric vehicles faced the same jump in demand from the oil crisis.
    — John Paul Helveston, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreat
Noun
  • Built and expanded over centuries, Derinkuyu offered a haven for entire communities to vanish underground during times of war or religious persecution, sealing themselves in behind massive stone doors.
    — Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Within one of those havens, Ellora, lives Pavi, a 10-year-old street kid with no memory of anything beyond the past three years.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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