1
as in shrines
a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion)
by law, anyone who sought refuge in a religious sanctuary was safe from arrest by the civil authorities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in refuges
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger
the marshland has been set aside as a sanctuary for shorebirds along that section of the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 sanctuaries
Scorcio has researched sanctuaries and has mixed feelings about them, noting that tortoises are monogamous and mate for life.
—
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
As part of this act of atonement, four bulls and four heifers are slaughtered at the sanctuaries of the nymphs, and their bodies are left in a grove.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Nicole Hollis has designed rarified sanctuaries for a discerning clientele around the world, creating statement-making spaces rife with collectible design and artwork.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
The decision to inaugurate the first urban Six Senses property in Rome was partially driven by the owner’s love of all things Italian and is part of a new drive to bring sanctuaries to bigger cities.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
That brightening would affect the entire planet, including remote locations that are now considered dark sky sanctuaries, where astronomers build their sky-observing machines.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
The immediate trigger lies in Pakistan’s growing concern over cross-border militant activity, particularly from groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which Islamabad believes operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Best International Hotels Global sanctuaries from Bali to Belize designed to anchor you in nature.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Spend your weekend by the waves, savoring fresh seafood and exploring the area’s wildlife sanctuaries.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
As part of this act of atonement, four bulls and four heifers are slaughtered at the sanctuaries of the nymphs, and their bodies are left in a grove.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Nicole Hollis has designed rarified sanctuaries for a discerning clientele around the world, creating statement-making spaces rife with collectible design and artwork.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
The decision to inaugurate the first urban Six Senses property in Rome was partially driven by the owner’s love of all things Italian and is part of a new drive to bring sanctuaries to bigger cities.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
That brightening would affect the entire planet, including remote locations that are now considered dark sky sanctuaries, where astronomers build their sky-observing machines.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
The immediate trigger lies in Pakistan’s growing concern over cross-border militant activity, particularly from groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which Islamabad believes operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
—Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Best International Hotels Global sanctuaries from Bali to Belize designed to anchor you in nature.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Spend your weekend by the waves, savoring fresh seafood and exploring the area’s wildlife sanctuaries.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctuaries
Noun
-
The concierge specializes in Kyoto’s cultural events, and can help access exclusive ochaya with an interpreter, score tickets to the theater, book dinner reservations, a huge help in Kyoto, or help arrange meetings with monks and priests at the city’s Shinto shrines and temples.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Many of the cities targeted in the war today are home to these types of shrines, including Qom, Isfahan and Mashhad.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Why perpetuate this problem in city parks — our best refuges from the danger, noise and congestion of city streets?—
Jon Orcutt,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Aire Ancient Baths A subterranean theater of candlelit pools and vaulted brick, Aire remains one of the city’s few strictly phone-and-camera-free refuges.—
Amy Louise Bailey,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Since the pandemic, South Florida’s housing crisis has only exacerbated the issue at already overwhelmed animal shelters.—
Amanda Rosa
April 9,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
There's shelters, there's places all the time giving away dogs.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some Singaporean businesses run offshore manufacturing operations in Batam, while others send staff to the island for meetings or corporate retreats, Tan said.—
Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
-
That total wasn’t built on epic reading binges or monastic retreats.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When fear eases, the rush into safe havens tends to ease with it.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Vested with the responsibility of finding havens for some of the county’s most fragile, lonely people, often without relatives or those able to care for them, Hernandez has been accused of treating them like commodities.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctuaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctuaries. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
