Thesaurus results for DENS

dens

noun

plural of den

as in lairs

the shelter or resting place of a wild animal the foxes hid in their den until the bear finally left the area

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as in hideouts

a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others an abandoned building that is often used as a den by the city's petty criminals

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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 dens No longer confined to gambling dens and brothel districts, yakuza muscled their way into other businesses, some legal, some not. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The hibernation period usually begins when bears start entering dens in mid-November, and lasts until mid-December. — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 The next Sam Altman or Elon Musk is probably spending their formative young adult years in one of these debaucherous dens. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 23 Sep. 2026 Restaurateur Robert LeBlanc and his team have created a neighborhood bar that takes its drinks seriously, a welcome addition to the New Orleans bar landscape which is notably short on dedicated whiskey dens. — Kristin Braswell, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 Other Animals While you may be tempted to blame other animals such as opossums or snakes, or even coyotes for making holes or burrows in your yard, these creatures are more likely to use existing animal holes for their dens. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026 Mother bears like Electra will teach their cubs about safe places to build dens, where and when to find food, and how to get it. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026 The project’s team also sank artificial dens in the waters to give the vulnerable newcomers somewhere to hide. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 As people continue to seek comfort and meaningful moments at home, dens provide the ideal environment. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dens

Noun

Some large bulls may retreat to lairs and hang out by themselves, remaining there as long as there is adequate food and water.

— Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025

Definition of lairs

Noun

The strikes targeted militant hideouts at two locations, with initial reports indicating 22 militants had been killed, Pakistan's Ministry of Information said.

— MUNIR AHMED, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
The conflicting statements came just days after Pakistani fighter jets struck sites in eastern Afghanistan that Islamabad said were militant hideouts, an escalation between Kabul and Islamabad that threatens mediation efforts by regional powers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of hideouts

Noun

Each spring, before the tractors roll in, Lundberg teams up with the California Waterfowl Association to search the cover crops for nests and collect any eggs by hand.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Birds are conspicuous then – singing, defending territories, building nests and raising young.

— Amy L. Scarpignato, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of nests

Noun

The crab digs shallow burrows for mating and molting and frequently maintains several burrows within its territory, the USGS report states.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
This sensory organ lets rats scurry through buildings, sewers, burrows, and countless other environments with ease, regardless of visibility.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of burrows

Noun

The hotel has a total of 59 rooms and suites, residences, villas, and houses for guests to choose from, including a few options in the original farmhouse, or stancija.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
The king tides came knocking Then, in August, came the first big king tide that sent punishing waves slamming into houses along the boardwalk.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of houses

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dens

dense

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

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Synonyms of dens

noun

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