1
as in pavilions
a freestanding airy structure in a scenic setting (as a park) typically offering commanding views
a small alcove in one corner of the backyard garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in nooks
a hollowed-out space in a wall
an ancient vase in an alcove and a sculpture of Achilles on a stand in the museum's Greek Hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alcoves
The alcoves on the rotunda's first level long held Iowa units' battle flags, including the 2nd Infantry's scarred banner.
—
Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Guests crunch through colorful seasonal salads, sip from an expansive wine list and dig into chef Alan Sternberg's inventive pasta dishes at snugly cloistered tables in wood and brick alcoves lined with paintings, books and even a handful of typewriters.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, the children’s bunkroom pairs two built-in bunks with two captain’s beds tucked in their own alcoves.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
Guest quarters are immense, with sunken bathtubs, Porthault sheets upon request on beds in cozy alcoves, and either a terrace or a porch.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Upon entry, clients are ushered through a tunnel of golden arches that lead to the main hall, where skin diagnostics are made in three separate alcoves.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Dec. 2025
Now, designers like Hám Interiors are making clever use of compact spaces by fitting bedrooms with alcoves that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
—Chloe Frost-Smith, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Inside the intimate cantina, a curved bar stands at the center of a domed space with alcoves around the edges.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
Sand and silt that settle from floodwaters in places that smaller flows never reach, such as caves or alcoves along the walls of bedrock canyons.
—Ellen Wohl
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Guests crunch through colorful seasonal salads, sip from an expansive wine list and dig into chef Alan Sternberg's inventive pasta dishes at snugly cloistered tables in wood and brick alcoves lined with paintings, books and even a handful of typewriters.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, the children’s bunkroom pairs two built-in bunks with two captain’s beds tucked in their own alcoves.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
Guest quarters are immense, with sunken bathtubs, Porthault sheets upon request on beds in cozy alcoves, and either a terrace or a porch.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Upon entry, clients are ushered through a tunnel of golden arches that lead to the main hall, where skin diagnostics are made in three separate alcoves.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Dec. 2025
Now, designers like Hám Interiors are making clever use of compact spaces by fitting bedrooms with alcoves that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
—Chloe Frost-Smith, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Inside the intimate cantina, a curved bar stands at the center of a domed space with alcoves around the edges.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
Sand and silt that settle from floodwaters in places that smaller flows never reach, such as caves or alcoves along the walls of bedrock canyons.
—Ellen Wohl
august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alcoves
Noun
-
Riverfront Esplanade This lovely outdoor gathering place along the Intracoastal Waterway contains a splash pad, dog park, picnic pavilions, a walking trail, and a riverfront market with local vendors on certain days of the month.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
It’s spread out over a clutch of open-air bamboo pavilions which overlook the Ayung River (the sound of babbling water adds an extra layer of Zen to the treatments).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Smashing the cucumbers creates nooks and crannies to soak up the dressing, so every bite is extra flavorful.—
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
-
City and fire officials have long complained that the existing network of 50 fire stations is inadequate geographically to access some small nooks and crannies in a city with many canyons and other topographic challenges.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With runners on the corners and two outs, Bichette lined a single to right, and Carson Benge scored easily.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In its final form, though, the change — 8 to 10 feet closer in the corners with the gaps tapering toward a still 410-foot centerfield — certainly doesn’t appear overwhelming.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past decade, the evidence has solidified in several clinical niches.—
Lynne Peeples,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Recently built, the mausoleum at the Tafi Viejo cemetery in Tucuman has most of its niches still empty, awaiting new identifications.—
Débora Rey,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alcoves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alcoves. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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