hovels

Definition of hovelsnext
plural of hovel
as in huts
a small, simply constructed, and often temporary dwelling refugees living in crowded hovels

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 hovels Abdul Hadi spent his days hiding in hovels in distant parts of Syria, turning his mind obsessively over the old days of revolution, over fleeting encounters and terrible choices. Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026 During the rainy season, their hovels turned into hovels on stilts. Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hovels
Noun
  • Working in hail and snow, York and the others built log huts.
    Craig Fehrman, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Summit Huts already operates five backcountry huts in Summit County and will fundraise to build the Frisco hut.
    John Meyer, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Across the Northeast, a host of summer camps deliver a mix of old-school camp experiences — complete with arts and crafts, s’mores and lakeside fun — but with decidedly adult upgrades such as cocktails and chic bunkhouses.
    Robin Roenker, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Chinese immigrants who arrived during the California gold rush and built the Central Pacific railroad were attacked and expelled from towns and mining camps across the American West.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Just south of downtown San Jose, about 100 people live on the banks of Coyote Creek, where footpaths and improvised bridges connect a community of tents and wooden shacks — the city’s last sprawling homeless encampment.
    Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Most schools take place in mud huts or shacks shared by dozens of young men, away from public glare.
    Mogomotsi Magome, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hovels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hovels. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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