refuge

[ref-yooj] / ˈrɛf yudʒ /

NOUN

place to hide, have privacy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

asylum fortress haven hideaway hideout hiding place protection resort retreat sanctuary security shelter stronghold

STRONG

ambush anchorage cover covert den escape exit expedient harbor harborage hole home immunity makeshift opening outlet port preserve recourse resource shield stopgap

WEAK

ivory tower safe place way-out

Antonyms

STRONG

closure entrance permanent solid

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In Zilpha Keatley Snyder’s 1965 novel for young readers, a 12-year-old girl finds an enchanting refuge in a forbidding mansion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Then the prime minister made his bold gambit, taking refuge in Labour Party rules.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

After wandering near homes and businesses, the big cat reportedly took refuge underneath a pickup truck at an apartment complex, NBC7 in San Diego reported.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

In the months since the legal drama began, Lively and Reynolds have attempted to maintain a relatively low profile by taking refuge at their sprawling home in Pound Ridge in upstate New York.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

It was a place you could take refuge, if you knew how to get in.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

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