sanctuaries

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

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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 sanctuaries India’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries have been home to several iconic Bengal tigers, many of them renowned for their massive size. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026 Pakistan says both the BLA and the Pakistani Taliban have sanctuaries in Afghanistan and receive support from India. ABC News, 10 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctuaries
Noun
  • Inside, inscriptions bearing Paser's name depict him worshipping various deities inside shrines, as well as seated with his wife before an offering table.
    CBS News, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • The party has proved as malleable to religion as to capitalism, spending billions on the rejuvenation of Buddhist shrines from Sri Lanka to Nepal.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • This vanishing act is due largely to the thousands of walleye seeking out cool water refuges in the lake, which can shift depending on the weather, experts say.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
  • Of course, there’s an aesthetic component to the National Park Service’s selection of land, too, as the landscapes range from wetlands and wildlife refuges to marshes.
    Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Last week torrential rains triggered deadly mudslides and flooding in Cox’s Bazar, flattening shelters and killing more than a dozen people, including children.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • Samoyed dogs actually slept in the shelters with their people.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • The Oaktree Capital Management cofounder and his wife, Nancy, have owned La Posada and Sa Punta for more than a decade, using the adjoining properties as holiday retreats.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 July 2026
  • Decades later, Regent Phu Quoc is the product of an ambitious brand revival and has already raised the bar in a country that isn’t exactly short of dreamy beach retreats.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • The rise of dopamine decor has shifted our perspective from designing our homes for others' enjoyment to reimagining our dwellings as havens that spark our own happiness.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026
  • Nothing is as attractive to a skunk as a cozy woodpile or rock pile to den in, says Fyffe, so keeping your yard free from those skunk havens is key.
    Felicia Feaster, Martha Stewart, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sanctuaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctuaries. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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