nests

Definition of nestsnext
plural of nest
1
as in centers
a place or environment that favors the development of something suspected that the elite private universities were a nest of antigovernment sentiments

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2
as in hideouts
a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others headed back to her cozy nest in the mountains for a little rest and relaxation

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 nests An increasing number of bears had previously been observed spending more time on land during the summer, plundering birds’ nests in west Svalbard, and data had shown more adult females in east Svalbard spending more time in areas with bird colonies. Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026 Valuable loot has been placed in bird’s nests and chimneys around the map. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026 By 2019, the state smashed records for the number of active territories with 64, with 45 successful nests and 81 chicks hatched. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026 Robins often produce three broods a season, building their nests out of grass and mud. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026 One tradition holds that tree squirrel nests, called dreys, can predict the severity of the coming winter. Steven Sullivan, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026 Several nests of endangered tri-colored herons — considered a threatened species in Florida — were found on the island. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 The solitary species spend their days sleeping in shallow nests covered by debris such as grass and leaves. Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026 Cable nests, piles of mail, and a plethora of small decorative objects can quickly overwhelm a space. Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nests
Noun
  • Today, the training centers provide lactation and feeding rooms, and the USOPC offers everything from physical and mental health support to nutritional planning and postpartum recovery strategies.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Much of that will go toward AI, including chips and data centers.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Guests settle into plush dining chairs and couchette-style hideouts for exquisite suppers in Art Deco interiors, all while the train trundles through the British countryside.
    Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Taiwo Adebayo, a researcher specializing in Boko Haram at the Institute for Security Studies, said the army began an offensive last month, proactively moving into hideouts to engage the insurgents.
    Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The University of Geneva researcher also explained why direct collapse black holes and their nurseries aren't found in the local, modern-day universe, saying that the conditions needed include a lack of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • In desperate situations, the nurseries spray chemical insecticides twice a week.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • These involve raiding the lairs of hoodlum rivals, then singlehandedly dissuading them from competition.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Those places aren’t exactly hotbeds for future big leaguers.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Some scientific disciplines have become hotbeds for slop.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Shia Islam’s clerical structure has historically been decentralized, with different ayatollahs, seminaries, and religious networks operating with considerable autonomy.
    Narges Bajoghli, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
  • At the heart of the unrest is a long-standing exemption that allows ultra-Orthodox men who study full-time in religious seminaries to avoid military service — a policy that many Israelis view as deeply unfair.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Anyone who’s ever done ballet will know that many studios are breeding grounds for body image issues.
    Refinery29 Staff, Refinery29, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Miller argues that universities are breeding grounds for ideological intolerance, laying blame on Marxist ideas.
    Mitch Picasso , Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Now the tomatoes are heirloom from hothouses, and unfortunately, my tomato slices were mushy.
    Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Nests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nests. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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