1
as in lair
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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2
as in hideout
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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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 den In the wild, this would be a den, and at home, kennels or beds. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025 That memory, faint but enduring, was set in the downstairs den of their home. Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025 The rhino skin, bearing blond fur, was only partially digested, suggesting the pups were resting in their den and died shortly after their last meal, Runge said. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 June 2025 The family makes a den and claims a territory of up to ten miles around it, defending their hunting ground from other mating pairs who might try to settle. Helen Whybrow july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for den
Recent Examples of Synonyms for den
Noun
  • For those who haven't seen it, Kiss play themselves facing down an evil inventor who keeps his secret lair in an amusement park.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 7 June 2025
  • Julie then said something about the mastermind's lair exploding, and, before commercial break, the show naturally flashed a fake shot of a lair exploding out in the wilderness.
    David Wysong, The Enquirer, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • His garage served as both a workplace and a hideout when needed.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • JPMorgan is bullish on Goodyear Tire & Rubber , as the company is not only executing on its transformation plans but can also serve as a hideout from tariff pressures.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Regarding the radioactive wasp nest, three additional nests have since been discovered at the site, The New York Times reported on Saturday.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Mice and rats reproduce quickly and may be looking for the next cozy nest.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Federal grant funding had been earmarked for the factory, but the money was taken back before any houses were produced.
    Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
  • The mother and daughter couldn’t swim, and the family waited out the storm in their home as the waters flooded — but didn’t dislodge — their house.
    Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • There may be four to five flat entrance holes to burrows concentrated in a small area.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Contrary to popular belief, tarantulas, which usually stay hidden in their burrows, are generally docile and are not dangerous.
    USA Today, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Den.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/den. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

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