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

Mountains, vineyards, coastal retreats, forests, or even rural villages are becoming sanctuaries where guests can unplug, breathe, and rediscover balance. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 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

The government previously arranged for the possible transfer of hippos to overseas sanctuaries. — CBS News, 5 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

During my trips to El Rosario and Sierra Chincua, both sanctuaries were mostly empty of tourists; cartels had been burning cars near the base of Sierra Chincua. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

In 2016, the Buenos Aires Zoo was transformed into an eco-park, removing animals from display and relocating many of them to sanctuaries. — Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 13 July 2026

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