as in shelters
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
as in protects
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
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Recent Examples of refuges
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
Another priority was to create little refuges for herself.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
From implementing congressional direction to revise the controversial Endangered Species Act to managing national wildlife refuges in changing landscapes to combating invasive species with new tools, Nesvik’s task is immense.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 14 Jan. 2026
Some state parks allow hunting, but national wildlife refuges are closed to hunting unless expressly permitted.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Lodging options vary from winter campsites and rustic cottages, to cozy micro-refuges and larger chalets.
—Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
But others argue that support for transgender people has infringed on the rights of biological women and their safety in spaces such as hospitals, prisons and domestic violence refuges.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Many of these refuges have since been obliterated.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
As the sun has grown subtly brighter over this span, if this supercontinent struggled with high carbon dioxide levels like its Pangaean forebear did, then this would be an inimically hot world to animals, except for lone refuges fringing its polar far reaches.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Nearby barrier islands like Sanibel, Cabbage Key, and Captiva add to the appeal, with scenic bike paths, wildlife refuges, and smaller communities that feel residential rather than resort-driven.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
Another priority was to create little refuges for herself.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
From implementing congressional direction to revise the controversial Endangered Species Act to managing national wildlife refuges in changing landscapes to combating invasive species with new tools, Nesvik’s task is immense.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 14 Jan. 2026
Some state parks allow hunting, but national wildlife refuges are closed to hunting unless expressly permitted.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025
Lodging options vary from winter campsites and rustic cottages, to cozy micro-refuges and larger chalets.
—Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
But others argue that support for transgender people has infringed on the rights of biological women and their safety in spaces such as hospitals, prisons and domestic violence refuges.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
Many of these refuges have since been obliterated.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
As the sun has grown subtly brighter over this span, if this supercontinent struggled with high carbon dioxide levels like its Pangaean forebear did, then this would be an inimically hot world to animals, except for lone refuges fringing its polar far reaches.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuges
Noun
-
Outreach workers will give people living in encampments a week’s notice, then conduct daily outreach every day that week, attempting to get the homeless people into shelters or more permanent housing solutions, the mayor said.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Conditions worsened through the day on Tuesday, and evacuation shelters were set up in Woodward and Mooreland, with food provided by the American Red Cross.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Alberto Carvalho, an immigrant himself, has pledged to do all in the district’s power to maintain schools as sanctuaries for children of immigrant families — and activists patrol outside schools to help ensure safe passage to campus for parents and students.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Coral planting in Costa Rica, women’s empowerment projects in Morocco, artisan preservation in Japan and Sweden, and elephant sanctuaries in Botswana are embedded into itineraries.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The backstory Sitting on the site of a former sugar and coconut plantation from the late 1790s, the sprawling property encompasses the resort, as well as 39 private rental retreats and 80 residential units.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Our history has repeatedly placed us at moral crossroads, asked to decide whether our freedom struggle aligns with broader visions of human dignity or retreats into narrower self-interest.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mamdani said 1,400 placements have been made into shelters and safe havens.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The state hosting the Super Bowl this year, California, is not one of those legal safe havens for sports gambling.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuges. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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