burrow 1 of 2

noun

ˈbər-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce burrow (audio)
Definition of burrownext
as in nest
the shelter or resting place of a wild animal the chipmunk retreated to its burrow to have its babies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

burrow

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to claw

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in to crouch

Related 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 burrow
Noun
While many burrows are harmless, tunnels located directly beneath patios, steps, retaining walls, or foundations can contribute to erosion and structural concerns over time. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 June 2026 Attracted to the smell, the flies will lay eggs in open wounds on warm-blooded animals, and within hours the eggs hatch as the worms burrow in a screw-like pattern into the flesh to feed, according to the advisory. — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Verb
The eggs hatch, burrow into the bloodstream, and then go wandering around, embedding in various tissues, muscles, and organs, including the brain. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026 This fly's larvae uniquely burrow into live tissue, causing rapid, potentially fatal damage within 7-14 days if untreated. — Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for burrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burrow
  1. nest
  2. claw
  3. crouch
  4. lair
  5. dredge
  6. couch
  7. house
  8. excavate
Noun
  • Barring bedding season in the early summer when large fish guard nests in the shallows, bigger fish will hang out in deeper, cooler water most of the time.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
  • Even two or three decades ago, scientists were spotting between 500 and 900 nests a season.
    — Alex Harris July 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
Definition of nest
Verb
  • As the critical 72-hour rescue window closes in Venezuela, families claw through rubble in La Guaira and beyond after a pair of earthquakes left hundreds dead and tens of thousands missing.
    — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • Instead of allowing criminals to steal funds and attempting to claw them back later, the administration is now using advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to detect and block fraudulent claims before the money ever leaves the Treasury.
    — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of claw
Verb
  • Muchová went up 3-1 early with a crouching forehand volley that just plopped inside the court, prompting applause from Gauff and a disbelieving shake of the head from Muchová.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • Johansen, sporting an all-black outfit, crouches down next to him and sweetly rests her head on his shoulder.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Definition of crouch
Noun
  • Today, travelers are drawn to natural phenomena like the bone-white cliffs of former pirate lair Kleftiko and Sikia sea cave with azure waters ideal for snorkeling.
    — Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026
  • But even with the host returned safe and sound (and the Mastermind’s lair dramatically blown to smithereens… which was somehow captured on camera), troubling questions remained.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Definition of lair
Verb
  • Lift okra from egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off; dredge in cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to fully coat each piece.
    — Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
  • When drought tightens the channel, water managers, dredge crews, and lock operators must communicate with towboat companies and shippers nearly every moment.
    — Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2026
Definition of dredge
Verb
  • Yet every bit of critique was couched as serving a larger goal for both of them.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 26 June 2026
  • Thankfully, there are self-aware jabs as well, and it’s all couched in a character- and ensemble-centric ending that has hearty portions that help the random sour bite go down smoothly.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 25 June 2026
Definition of couch
Noun
  • Authorities wanted to close what some consider a legal loophole allowing cardrooms to offer blackjack and games in which players play against the house.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Bieber recently brought down the house at this year’s Coachella, playing both weekends as the headliner.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of house
Verb
  • Last summer, archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Olympus uncovered the remains of a fifth-century Christian church, bearing an inscription hidden for more than 1,000 years.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
  • Genetic analysis also resolved longstanding questions about the Golden Man, whose Scythian burial mound, called a kurgan, dates back to around 400 BC to 300 BC and was excavated in 1969 at a site in Kazakhstan.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of excavate

Browse Nearby Words

burros
burrow
burrowed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burrow. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on burrow

Nglish: Translation of burrow for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fulcrum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All