as in pubs
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises
supposedly, that Broadway hangout was the favorite watering hole for 1940s celebrities
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of watering holes
For some businesses, Saturday is the most wonderful day of the year as thousands of Santas visit San Francisco watering holes for Santa Con.
—
Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Many of the old watering holes — like Palmer’s Bar, which predates World War I — have struggled and closed amid changing demographics, shifting drinking habits and declining foot traffic.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
However, these Southern watering holes hold that something special that keeps people coming back for more.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
Bacon takes his time getting to the fateful voyage; there are myriad sidebars of varying interest on topics such as Great Lakes shipping and the rise of taconite, two lake wrecks that foreshadowed the Fitz, even the sailors’ favorite watering holes.
—Kevin Duchschere, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
This cash-only, live music joint is one of the oldest watering holes in the Upper Keys, and was one of Jimmy Buffett's favorite places to grab a drink.
—Teaghan Skulszki, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2025
From cocktail havens to historic haunts, here's which watering holes made the cut.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Many of the old watering holes — like Palmer’s Bar, which predates World War I — have struggled and closed amid changing demographics, shifting drinking habits and declining foot traffic.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
However, these Southern watering holes hold that something special that keeps people coming back for more.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
Bacon takes his time getting to the fateful voyage; there are myriad sidebars of varying interest on topics such as Great Lakes shipping and the rise of taconite, two lake wrecks that foreshadowed the Fitz, even the sailors’ favorite watering holes.
—Kevin Duchschere, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
This cash-only, live music joint is one of the oldest watering holes in the Upper Keys, and was one of Jimmy Buffett's favorite places to grab a drink.
—Teaghan Skulszki, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2025
From cocktail havens to historic haunts, here's which watering holes made the cut.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering holes
Noun
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Meanwhile, local shopkeepers sell everything from home décor to fine art, and restaurants range from cheery cafes to moody pubs.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
-
For centuries, people gathering in bars and pubs have found ways to occupy their time, whether that’s classic games like billiards and darts or more recent inventions like video games and mechanical bulls.—
Fritz Hahn,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The town provides old-timey Western vibes with historic hotels, saloons, and taverns.—
Alex Schechter,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Dec. 2025
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The attack follows a string of mass shootings at bars — often called shebeens or taverns in South Africa.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
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On a single day in 1900, a former schoolteacher destroyed three saloons using bricks, rocks, and a billiard ball—all to advance the cause of temperance.—
The Atlantic Science Desk,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
-
The town provides old-timey Western vibes with historic hotels, saloons, and taverns.—
Alex Schechter,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The founders argue that automation should be accessible to smaller operators, including neighborhood bars and private event spaces.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
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Braddy was sentenced to 30 years behind bars but was released from prison in 1997 — a year before Quatisha’s killing — after serving only 13 years.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Vaudeville gave way to Vegas and nightclubs, which gave way to television.—
Questlove,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
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His legacy is alive and well in the nightclubs of Recife, the capital city, where couples dance to forró’s distinctive ringing of triangles and humming zabumba drum until the early hours.—
Carolina Abbott Galvão,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Watering holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20holes. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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