Definition of sanctuarynext
1
as in shrine
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

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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 sanctuary Revelation is not meant to live only in the sanctuary. Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026 The Spa Ordovician Spa is a wellness sanctuary with an overwater wellness platform for massages, yoga, and meditation, a sauna, and a cold plunge. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026 The university received $25,000 for planning and $300,000 to repair the slab floor and foundation in the sanctuary. Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026 At this sanctuary surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, rich red sunsets are built into the framework, casting a dusky glow on everything and everyone. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sanctuary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctuary
Noun
  • The regime would call our cultural traditions pagan, but Iranians still make pilgrimages to the shrines of our poets.
    Azar Nafisi, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist principles of si (inner peace) and Zhungtrel (balance), the retreat will feature a meditation shrine, a Himalayan healing crystal meditation room,a Himalayan salt room, a heated swimming pool, and a yoga pavilion.
    Jen Murphy, Outside, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Generations of Coloradans will see their stories here and imagine the days when legendary Black actors and authors sought refuge in Lincoln Hills.
    Anna Alejo, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The city is also expanding its efforts to open up new places in which people can take refuge, according to Mamdani.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Gertie, a female boxer-mix, was found by a partner shelter in Tulare after she had been dropped off on the side of the road with serious injuries.
    Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The gala, the organization’s biggest fundraiser, helps fund counseling, advocacy and emergency shelter for individuals and families who are survivors of domestic violence.
    Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Reading retreats are rising in popularity, but what about more casual literary pilgrims?
    Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
  • In 2024, Balmoral became an especially important retreat for King Charles and Kate Middleton, both of whom were diagnosed with cancer.
    Emma Banks, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sanctuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctuary. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.

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