havens

noun

plural of haven
1
as in ports
a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to be a place of safety for ships this picturesque cove is one of the most popular havens on all of the cape for weekend yachtsmen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in refuges
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger the cross-country skiers hoped desperately to find a cave, as a haven from the blizzard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 havens 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 From mountain retreats to waterfront havens, these beautiful spots are a balm for your physical and mental health. — Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2026 Miami remains the perennial grande dame, while further north, in the Palm Beaches, travelers encounter charming vias tucked behind Worth Avenue and unspoiled wildlife havens. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 Yet persistent American pressure on the remaining jihadi havens bore fruit over time. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026 Foreign central banks and other institutions looking for a safe place to park their capital have diminished roles in the Treasury market and have increasingly turned to alternative havens like gold. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026 Past its glory days, the street adopted a grimier reputation, with crime and dangerous drivers, but there was a vision to transform it into something resembling Magnolia Avenue, or one of south Fort Worth’s pedestrian havens. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Administration officials say New York Democrats allow havens for immigrants who have been charged with or convicted of crimes. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for havens
  1. ports
  2. refuges
  3. anchorages
  4. shelters
  5. harbors
  6. sanctuaries
  7. retreats
Noun
  • Cargo trucks now line the highway for some 10 miles, waiting for a chance to enter the ports.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Russian drones have repeatedly violated Romanian airspace near some of Ukraine's Danube ports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of ports
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
  • The length of the suspension bridge is 8,614 feet, including anchorages, according to the bridge authority.
    — Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • More than 139 container vessels resided in the port’s outer anchorages as of Thursday morning, Seko said.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of anchorages
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
  • For all other beaches and harbors, shallow with minor to moderate sea- water flooding will likely impact beaches and walkways, especially with the Sunday morning high tide which could cause local damage to most vulnerable locations such as Venice.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Foreign governments are racing to gain access to African harbors.
    — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of harbors
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

Browse Nearby Words

have-nots
havens
have on
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All