harboring

verb

present participle of harbor
1
as in having
to keep in one's mind or heart he had long harbored a grudge against his old employer, who had high-handedly fired him without cause

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accommodating
to provide with living quarters or shelter the woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sheltering
to be or provide a shelter for the little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 harboring Nick Dean One year later, in August 2025, a six-person jury in Douglas County found Oliver not guilty of misdemeanor charges of harboring a dangerous dog. — Michael Abeyta, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026 Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan — a charge Kabul denies. — Abdul Qahar Afghan, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 The theory out there is that Macon is a future foe, harboring a big secret on his ranch. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026 But criticism of the outdoor dining arrangements built up, with detractors saying the spots were unsightly, dirty, and harboring rats. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 After harboring his suspicions about McDonnell’s finances, Carroll was fed up and went to her father. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 The historic infection rate average for blacklegged ticks harboring the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is 32%, according to Molaei. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026 Like the initial story, Millie’s employers (Dunst and Kelly portray the spouses) are harboring a dark, sinister secret. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies. — CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harboring
  1. having
  2. accommodating
  3. sheltering
  4. holding
  5. housing
  6. protecting
  7. lodging
  8. bunking
Verb
  • Sporting is planning to stay with its MLS model of having two DPs and four U22 roster spots that only charge a certain number against the salary cap.
    — PJ Green August 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The number of Americans who report having six or more close friends has plunged by 50% this century, and the number of people reporting no close friends has skyrocketed by 400% over that same time period.
    — Ken Stern, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of having
Verb
  • Living areas span the entire upper deck, with four guest cabins and the owner’s suite on the main deck (accommodating up to 10 guests in total) alongside a dedicated gym and spa area.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Another issue the event faced was accommodating everyone who wanted to attend.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of accommodating
Verb
  • About 200 families are sheltering in the school in Lebanon’s southern coastal city of Tyre.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As more than 50 others sought refuge in L’Arche de la Nouvelle Alliance, a Protestant church that had been sheltering people already displaced by the violence, the gunmen pursued them.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheltering
Verb
  • Brown’s ability to hammer Husted on this issue is alarming Republican operatives, who see a Husted victory as crucial to holding a majority in the Senate.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Ross Fire burning west of Fort Worth in Palo Pinto County appears to be holding steady at around 85,000 acres and 26% containment Friday, according to Texas A&M Forest Service officials.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of holding
Verb
  • The Hotel Westin Excelsior, which sits opposite to the Palazzo, will officially become part of MIA, housing its film and drama activities in conference and meeting rooms.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Within this market, ICE ships detainees around the country, paying hundreds of facilities a per-day rate for housing them.
    — Ella Siegrist, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of housing
Verb
  • The new mRNA flu vaccine is also an option, as it was found in one study to be 27% more effective at protecting against illnesses in older adults than a standard shot.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Commanders at military bases and personnel protecting critical infrastructure often do not have the legal authority to destroy or degrade drones that illegally fly into their airspace.
    — Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of protecting
Verb
  • In July 2025, a destructive wildfire tore through dense pines on the canyon’s northern edge, destroying the historic Grand Canyon Lodge — the park’s only lodging there.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • State park overnight lodging costs between $60 to $120 per night, with deluxe lodging $160 per night.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of lodging
Verb
  • Collins is bunking in a 10-bedroom villa with a view of the ocean that is renting for approximately $12 thousand a day with a private chef and full staff.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
  • Though Biggs is making the upgrade from tween to teen room, the content creator is still bunking with her younger sister, Aleia.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of bunking

Browse Nearby Words

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harboring
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Cite this Entry

“Harboring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harboring. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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