Synonyms of refuge

refuge 1 of 2

noun

ˈre-(ˌ)fyüj 

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

• shelter
• sanctuary
• retreat
• haven
• asylum
• residence
• oasis
• harbor
• lodging
• abode
• sanctum
• bolt-hole
• hideout
• harborage
• housing
• dwelling
• fortress
• rest
• stronghold
• anchorage
• port
• house
• place
• quarters
• habitation
• domicile
• mooring
• cloister
• roof
• fort
• den
• screen
• castle
• hideaway
• shed
• lair
• cover
• closet
• pad
• diggings
• palisade
• hermitage
• windbreak
• lodgment
• lee
• redoubt
• fastness
• covert
• lean-to

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

• shelter
• protect
• house
• harbor
• secure
• defend
• safeguard
• shield
• ward
• quarter
• place
• shade
• cover
• domicile
• screen
• shadow

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expose

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of refuge

Noun

This vanishing act is due largely to the thousands of walleye seeking out cool water refuges in the lake, which can shift depending on the weather, experts say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026

The front dining room lined with TVs is a cool, dark refuge on a summer day. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 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