Thesaurus results for REFUGEE

refugee

noun

ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē

Definition of refugee

as in exile

a person forced to emigrate for political reasons refugees began returning to their homeland after years of political unrest and war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 refugee Kali, who lives in San Diego, does freelance documentary filmmaking and previously directed an award-winning short about a Ukrainian refugee. — Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026 Their race started off heated again in 2026, with the campaigns trading claims over Bradley’s position on the legislation named for the Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail in 2025. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026 These refugees of a dire comedy landscape had gathered for a Difficult People reunion. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026 And the refugee crisis sparked in part by the Islamic State’s initial expansion continues to roil Europe. — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refugee

Recent Examples of Synonyms for refugee

Noun

Much of the work here is quietly devastating in evoking absence, fear and exile.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
His writing explores themes of exile, dispossession, birth, and resurrection.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of exile

Noun

Rivera-Deleon was booked into Miami-Dade County Corrections on Tuesday, accused of being an out-of-state fugitive who is set for possible extradition, according to jail records.

— David K. Li, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2026
Cledith, who died in 2004, failed to appear before a judge and became a fugitive in October 1978, Acton’s campaign told PEOPLE.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of fugitive

Noun

Instead of the cartoon alien who loves Oreos and beats up other alien bad guys, this run turns John Jones (FKA J'onn J'onnz) into an FBI agent who survives a suicide bombing and merges with an alien entity.

— Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
Shatner’s Star Trek captain was your slightly drunk uncle, always deciding the rules never applied to him and winking rapaciously at the nearest sexy alien.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of alien

Noun

But unlike most Israeli expatriates, his return voyage was a 10,000-mile, 30-plus-hour odyssey from a remote sheep station in the Australian outback to his village in the Galilee, in northern Israel.

— Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Oct. 2026
Thousands of Serb expatriates in the United States, Australia and New Zealand face the same problem.

— Branimir Pipal, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of expatriate

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refuged

refugee

refugees

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“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refugee. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of refugee

noun

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