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.

In 2022, South Korea helped roughly 400 Afghans leave their country after the Taliban seized power, but it designated them as “special contributors” rather than refugees because they had employment ties with South Korean agencies.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

The inclusion of Rohingya refugees in the order has also drawn criticism.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

“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

Palantir said it was proud to have supported the scheme and "stood up a solution in just nine days, which enabled the safe resettlement of more than 157,000 refugees".

From BBC • May 14, 2026

In many cases, this doomed the refugees to starvation.

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