refuge 1 of 2

Definition of refugenext

refuge

2 of 2

verb

as in to shelter
to be or provide a shelter for a nation with a long, honorable history of refuging political asylum seekers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 refuge
Noun
June Baby by Shannon Garvey After losing her mother, Ruth is sent to Block Island where she is taken in by photographer Diana Beckett and discovers a summer refuge that shapes her dreams, her writing, and her first love with Diana’s nephew, Charlie. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 May 2026 The gameplay explores the concept of light as a weapon against enemies in the dark as well as a save haven for refuge. George Yang, PC Magazine, 22 May 2026
Verb
For one, an evacuation was not necessarily a path to refuge in the United States, as many expected. Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 Targeted sanctions against the Kremlin and other state actors must be accompanied by support for those displaced by war, and the right to refuge must not be conditioned on one’s profession or degree of education. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 See All Example Sentences for refuge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuge
Noun
  • In 2016, the city enacted Local Law 84, becoming the first jurisdiction in the country to require free menstrual products in public schools, shelters, and correctional facilities.
    Gale Brewer, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
  • This family home was a bastion of social and political life for many years before it was abandoned in the second World War, eventually becoming a shelter for those displaced.
    Katie Silcox, Vogue, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Search for a director of football Sources with knowledge of the situation — who, like all those cited in this piece, spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships — say Nuno will have a big say in the appointment of a director of football.
    Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • Perry’s grieving mother accuses Iwamasa of betraying his duty to protect her son.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Schools are sanctuaries for learning, and neither county education officials nor school district personnel should serve as instruments of federal immigration enforcement.
    Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
  • This is a refined sanctuary with impeccable eco-credentials and a relative bargain when compared to the likes of Babylonstoren.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Near the entrance, visit the spa’s meditation space and library in two traditional Vietnamese houses, while Tai Chi, sound healing, and yoga further round out the extensive wellness retreat setting.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
  • The desk in the basement is not a retreat from life.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • Gold is a safe-haven asset that investors gravitate toward when economic and political turmoil erupts, sending waves through the markets.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 29 May 2026
  • The area is a haven for anglers, who can book a fishing charter or cast a line off the seasonally open Bogue Inlet Pier.
    Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refuge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuge. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on refuge

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