asylums

noun

plural of asylum
as in shelters
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger the embassy serves as an asylum for that country's nationals in need of help

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of asylums Such a light as this should shine only on murders and public crime, or along the corridors of lunatic asylums. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026 Conditions varied, but some asylums gained reputations as brutal, overcrowded warehouses where patients were neglected and restrained. — ABC News, 24 May 2026 For example, sociologist Erving Goffman showed that the way care is structured in asylums shaped how patients are treated. — Jennifer Singh, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026 Many former asylums are now macabre tourist attractions, whose treatment of their subject matter can range from the sensitive to the sensationalist. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025 But worst of all is the knowledge that all of these terrors were trademarks of the asylums that stowed away those with mental health conditions well into the 20th century. — James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asylums
  1. shelters
  2. refuges
  3. sanctuaries
  4. retreats
  5. havens
Noun
  • Smith has called for more clarity around shelters in city zoning code.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Here are Norte fire evacuations, shelters and school closures.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of shelters
Noun
  • Piling leaves in corners or under shrubs creates refuges for these species.
    — Pam Rosendal, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Bring your binoculars, and see for yourself at these eight wildlife preserves and refuges.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of refuges
Noun
  • With a foreword by fashion designer Jenna Lyons, the book showcases a variety of distinct residential projects, from city penthouses and lakeside retreats to coastal sanctuaries, culminating in their first luxury yacht project.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Not only making sure that these animals can retire and go to beautiful sanctuaries, but making sure that these workers are protected.
    — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sanctuaries
Noun
  • With a foreword by fashion designer Jenna Lyons, the book showcases a variety of distinct residential projects, from city penthouses and lakeside retreats to coastal sanctuaries, culminating in their first luxury yacht project.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • After hours, Neo-Vision parks his body in the bar’s walk-in fridge and retreats to a mind palace modeled after a British country manor.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreats
Noun
  • World-class accommodations and dining, wellness facilities, and an array of indulgent activities and events are transforming harbors into truly lavish havens.
    — Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Within one of those havens, Ellora, lives Pavi, a 10-year-old street kid with no memory of anything beyond the past three years.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of havens

Browse Nearby Words

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asylums
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Cite this Entry

“Asylums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asylums. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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