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 Today’s Gemini moon fills you with inspiration to rearrange your sanctuary. Usa Today, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 President Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Monday night directing federal officials to publish a list of all jurisdictions that have declared themselves sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants in the United States. Soumya Karlamangla, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025 Reckless sanctuary city policies create a sanctuary for one class — criminals. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025 For Every Occasion By Audrey Noble Photo: Andre Terrell McWilliams For Tony Stovall, Hot Sam’s is a sanctuary for Black men where style meets purpose. Shelton Boyd-Griffith, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sanctuary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctuary
Noun
  • Still Life depicting figures in an ancestral shrine.
    Delinda Collier, Artforum, 1 May 2025
  • That’s right—Wright never built this shrine to celluloid.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Princess of Wales, 43, who recently shared how nature has become a refuge during her cancer recovery, has passed on that love to her only daughter.
    Monique Jessen, People.com, 8 May 2025
  • Societal-level cooperation Boyd and Wilson have written extensively about how island communities and nations could serve as refuges during global catastrophes—an idea that many of the world’s wealthiest people support.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Even Hayek and Friedman talked confidently about a flat 25 percent income tax—as if Andrew Mellon, who had unmatched wisdom on this score, was incorrect that any rate over 10 percent prompts the full menace of flows into economically unproductive shelters.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • Earlier this year, the star launched an emergency fund and donated $100,000 to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, and also volunteered at an animal shelter to help cats and dogs that were affected by the natural disaster.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • The Crescent City retreat, about 70 miles north of Orlando, has a lake-side lodge, a clubhouse, more than 500 animals, an archery range, and sporting clays.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2025
  • By the time the main defending force arrives, the enemy is already crippled and in retreat.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sanctuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctuary. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

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