Definitions

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.

Valuations offer refuge in an otherwise expensive world.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

She says she seeks refuge from the madness, even if it’s just taking a bath and staring at the wall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Consequences of the conflict also spilled across the border into India, with thousands of people, many from Myanmar's Chin ethnic minority, taking refuge in India's north-eastern states of Mizoram and Manipur.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

The department did not immediately respond to a request Sunday for comment about where the eagles took up refuge.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

Chronology, so the saying goes, is the last refuge of the feebleminded and only resort for historians.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Vocabulary lists containing refuge

The Star-Spangled Banner

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Persepolis

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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