refugees

plural of refugee
as in exiles
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons refugees began returning to their homeland after years of political unrest and war

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 refugees Hamparian and Pechdimaldji both recommended a United Nations mission and peacekeeping force to facilitate the return of Armenian refugees. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025 Some refugees talked about extreme right-wing militias waiting at border controls. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025 Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Thousands of refugees settled in and around Westminster. Ron Hasse, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025 Never mind the Sudanese refugees or the starving Ethiopians or the mass shootings in our own country or the myriad ways people suffered and died all over the world every single day. Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025 This approach is based on giving refugees opportunities to define what’s important to them and then helping to make this a reality. Paul Klein, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024 In neighboring Chad, both refugees and locals cope with this extraordinary upheaval. Marc Silver, NPR, 27 Dec. 2024 Milwaukee is believed to be home to one of the largest groups of Burmese refugees in the country — among them the Muslim Rohingya — but also the Karen and Chin, who have started several local American Baptist churches. Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refugees
Noun
  • Nicknamed El Refugio by many exiles, the name became synonymous with the Freedom Tower.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The overarching storyline for Battletech is the struggle between the noble houses born from the Succession Wars and the returning exiles of the Clans.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Same as 20 years ago, when some Katrina evacuees navigated such injustices.
    Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
  • For three days, Qaddoura worked recruiting volunteers to help the relief effort as more evacuees arrived in Houston.
    Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Some parents are concerned that tuition fees for international schools in Kenya could rise further with the arrival of more expatriates in the country.
    Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • If an investor who has not sold the IP expatriates for example, valuation of the interest will be included in determining the investor’s net worth and may subject the investor to unexpected taxes as a covered expatriate, for both income and estate tax purposes.
    Priya Prakash Royal Esq. LL.M. MBA AEP TEP, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Refugees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refugees. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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