Synonyms of sanctuaries

sanctuaries

noun

plural of sanctuary

1

as in shrines

a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion)

by law, anyone who sought refuge in a religious sanctuary was safe from arrest by the civil authorities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shrines
• sanctums
• reliquaries
• martyries

2

as in refuges

something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger

the marshland has been set aside as a sanctuary for shorebirds along that section of the coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuges
• shelters
• retreats
• havens
• residences
• asylums
• sanctums
• harbors
• bolt-holes
• lodgings
• oases
• hideouts
• abodes
• harborages
• dwellings
• ports
• fortresses
• anchorages
• quarters
• strongholds
• houses
• domiciles
• habitations
• hideaways
• cloisters
• housings
• moorings
• screens
• dens
• roofs
• forts
• places
• hermitages
• rests
• lairs
• castles
• closets
• redoubts
• pads
• diggings
• coverts
• sheds
• palisades
• windbreaks
• covers
• lodgments
• lees
• lean-tos

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sanctuaries

From digital networks to dance floor sanctuaries, the reimagining of reggaeton called ‘neoperreo’ — made by and for femmes and freaks — turns 10 this year. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

With a foreword by fashion designer Jenna Lyons, the book showcases a variety of distinct residential projects, from city penthouses and lakeside retreats to coastal sanctuaries, culminating in their first luxury yacht project. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Not only making sure that these animals can retire and go to beautiful sanctuaries, but making sure that these workers are protected. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

The theater, the ballet, the opera, and the symphony, where turning off your phone is gleefully enforced, are sanctuaries. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026

Think of the property's 62 rooms as sophisticated sanctuaries—modern, sleek, and intimate—done up in a palette of earth tones punctuated with pops of maroon and warm yellow, dark wood and leather. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Not all portions of Grand Traverse County are open to deer hunting and some whitetails are able to grow old in those sanctuaries. — Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026

The waterfront suites with private verandahs and two-bedroom plunge pool villas are special sanctuaries. — Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Beyond a better understanding of positive inter-species relationships among apes and monkeys, the researchers say further analysis could also benefit mixed animal facilities at wildlife sanctuaries and zoos. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 July 2026