Thesaurus results for WATERING HOLES

watering holes

noun

plural of watering hole

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

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 watering holes There’s a handful of eating spots and watering holes here, each with a distinct vibe. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026 Some Boston watering holes reportedly ran out of beer when Scottish fans descended on the city. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 2026 In some parts of Hwange, natural seeps and seasonal watering holes provide supplementary water, while Wilderness helps pump water to artificial watering holes in the southeastern region of the park. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026 The bar at the Chequit, which had been one of the few local watering holes left on the island, closed during the off-season for the first time in memory. — Reeves Wiedeman, Curbed, 22 June 2026 Forbes Travel Guide’s Best Hotel Bars For 2026 Hotel bars are havens for travelers—locals, too—and to honor the watering holes on the top shelf, Forbes Travel Guide recently released its 2026 Hotel Star Bars, which spans 18 countries, from Singapore to Scotland. — Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 And a few miles south, Cape Canaveral's surf-centric neighbor, Cocoa Beach, offers a heartier menu of watering holes ranging from relaxed to raucous. — Marisa Spyker, Southern Living, 19 June 2026 For example, drought often concentrates elephants around water and food sources, such as watering holes, where those sick or weakened by starvation are more likely to succumb to the harsh weather conditions, poor water quality, or predators who have taken notice of the herd’s behavior. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 Add in a killer (and vintage) spirits collection and pop-ups hosting the world’s top watering holes? — Virginia Miller, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering holes

Noun

Every August, the city transforms into a global stage as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival and a host of other cultural celebrations fill its streets, theaters and pubs with artists and visitors from around the world.

— Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Roughly 930 pubs closed in London between 2004 and 2024, and hundreds of hospitality businesses, including cafés and restaurants, closed near the end of 2025.

— Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 2026

Definition of pubs

Noun

The smaller, working-class towns that dot the southeast part of the county are filled with the types of pubs and taverns that give a place character.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Widely regarded as the country's culinary capital—a remarkable distinction in a nation renowned for its gastronomy—the city has earned a reputation for its traditional bouchons (taverns), bustling food halls, and world-class restaurants.

— Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026

Definition of taverns

Noun

Chinese mega-corps BYD is making huge inroads in European markets with its technically accomplished saloons and SUVs.

— Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 13 July 2026
By 1884, a map of the Central Business District shows hotels, saloons, dry goods shops, cigar manufacturers, and stores selling everything from shoes, to jewelry and even a winemaker.

— Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2026

Definition of saloons

Noun

Across the country, rooftop bars are extending their hours, restaurants are debuting fresh menu offerings and final calls at happy hours become the soundtrack for the night, marking the final weeks of summer.

— Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
For many, the Salted Nut Roll and Nut Goodie bars carried memories that lasted long after the wrapper was gone.

— Frankie McLister, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of bars

Noun

The Fort Worth City Council approved a $31 million incentive package for the company in that same month as part of an effort to bring more office development to the area at a time when West 7th was primarily known for its bars and nightclubs.

— Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
The city has several hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops.

— Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026

Definition of nightclubs

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watering hole

watering holes

watering place

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“Watering holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20holes. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of watering holes

noun

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