as in caverns
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface
Kentucky's Mammoth Cave is actually a series of large chambers on five levels
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of caves
Arushi Jacob, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Researchers have discovered multiple rare and new species in previously unexplored caves in Cambodia, including a flying snake and a florescent-turquoise pit viper.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
What’s At Stake These caves aren’t empty wilderness.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Why Caves Matter for Discovery The caves sit within a karst landscape — terrain shaped by dissolving limestone — where each hill and cave system is naturally isolated from the others.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Theron races through the forest and rafts through the rapids while Egerton follows her into caves and down the side of a cliff.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Researchers have discovered multiple rare and new species in previously unexplored caves in Cambodia, including a flying snake and a florescent-turquoise pit viper.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
What’s At Stake These caves aren’t empty wilderness.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Why Caves Matter for Discovery The caves sit within a karst landscape — terrain shaped by dissolving limestone — where each hill and cave system is naturally isolated from the others.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caves
Noun
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For more caves and caverns exploration, check out our guide.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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The reserve, which can reach as many as 714 million barrels, is stored in large, high-security underground salt caverns along the gulf coastlines of Louisiana and Texas.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Each year, the task force submits a report to Congress outlining gaps in research and highlighting areas where more focus is needed.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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Will biannual bombing campaigns be employed until Iran submits to American demands?—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Highlights include Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, the cliffside grottoes of Dunhuang, and a camel ride across the dunes of the Gobi Desert.—
Everett Potter,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Stay at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, which partners with Islander Watersports to offer excursions to scuba dive reefs, coral grottoes and shipwrecks just minutes from Pinney’s Beach.—
Adrienne Jordan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While the iron catalyst must be removed after processing, the method yields more graphite and is financially viable, according to techno-economic analysis published in Bioresource Technology.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
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This yields a lot of clever dialogue—and yet.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After Jamie Gittens overruns the ball, Jorrel Hato picks up the pieces and reworks the move out wide to Cole Palmer.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pythons are constrictors, known to grip prey in their jaws, coil around it, then squeeze until the victim capitulates.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Caves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caves. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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