refugees

NOUN

person running from something, often oppression

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alien displaced person emigrant evacuee exile expatriate foreigner

STRONG

DP castaway defector derelict deserter escapee foundling fugitive leper maroon outcast outlaw prodigal renegade runaway

WEAK

boat person expellee homeless person stateless person émigré

Antonyms

STRONGEST

citizen national native

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.

“Every delay has a human cost,” said Heather Kerr, Congo country director for the International Rescue Committee, a charity that works with refugees.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Through a website, backed by an IT system, those who had a rent-free space in their home or a separate residence could to offer it to refugees.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

Schreiber called the ruling important for government efforts to bring about a more "effective and fair system to manage refugees and asylum seekers".

From BBC • May 12, 2026

The attacks come as sensitivities around migrants have grown in parts of Germany following a large influx of asylum seekers and refugees in 2015.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

In many cases, this doomed the refugees to starvation.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari