variants
also grottos
as in caves
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface
at the heart of the shrine is a small rocky grotto into which pilgrims can descend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 grottoes
Highlights include Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, the cliffside grottoes of Dunhuang, and a camel ride across the dunes of the Gobi Desert.
—
Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Stay at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, which partners with Islander Watersports to offer excursions to scuba dive reefs, coral grottoes and shipwrecks just minutes from Pinney’s Beach.
—Adrienne Jordan, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
To keep things fresh, producers have ventured into hitherto uncharted baking grottoes.
—Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Stay at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, which partners with Islander Watersports to offer excursions to scuba dive reefs, coral grottoes and shipwrecks just minutes from Pinney’s Beach.
—Adrienne Jordan, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
To keep things fresh, producers have ventured into hitherto uncharted baking grottoes.
—Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grottoes
Noun
-
The Wild Boars youth soccer team, all between 11 to 16 years old, had taken a field trip to the caves on June 23 and were trapped about two miles deep by flooding.—
Emilee Coblentz,
Outside,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The staff takes care of everything from meal preparation to activity planning (which can include igloo-building, hiking, exploring ice caves, a glacier picnic, and more).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These caverns under sidewalks could be used for storage, and circular pieces of thick glass in the sidewalk added natural light to these eerie underground chambers.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
-
During summer months, the Wyandotte Caves attract visitors who wish to explore the unique underground caverns.—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grottoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grottoes. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
