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

The state’s private waters are, in some ways, sanctuaries for the resource. — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026

Eco effort The resort is home to one of three turtle conservation sanctuaries in the Maldives, developed with Olive Ridley Project. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 June 2026

The islands are wildlife sanctuaries. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2026

As with most titles in the category, hallways become battlegrounds and bedrooms double as sanctuaries. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 June 2026

Read on for a peek into her personal sanctuaries. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 15 June 2026

Bald eagles, owls, hawks, falcons and vultures are all among the birds of prey visitors can see when visiting the 3-acre property on Lake Sybelia, which is one of 55 Audubon centers and sanctuaries nationwide. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026

Two years later, voters in several Chittenden County towns formed the park district to conserve nature in the river valley, build ways for people to appreciate it and create sanctuaries. — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Staying active is also not confined to the brick-and-mortar gym anymore, especially after Covid-era restrictions influenced many to build sweat sanctuaries at home, invest in equipment like Pelotons, or simply power on a YouTube video and hop on a yoga mat in their living rooms. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 June 2026