1
as in shrine
a place that is considered sacred (as within a religion) by law, anyone who sought refuge in a religious sanctuary was safe from arrest by the civil authorities

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 sanctuary The building dates back to 1904 and still has the airy feel of a sanctuary. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025 This secret sanctuary was full of herbs both magical and mortal. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025 Local officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning at Philadelphia’s Calder Gardens, the new sanctuary honoring pathbreaking sculptor Alexander Calder, presaging its opening to the public, which is set for September 21. News Desk, Artforum, 15 Sep. 2025 Restoration work on the exterior of the sanctuary took place last year. Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sanctuary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctuary
Noun
  • The greenroom at Largo is a small shrine to great talent.
    Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Excavations at the site have uncovered temples, elite residences, and a shrine to Wadjet, the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Starship’s launch pad is along the Texas coastline, less than 5 miles from the Mexico border, surrounded by a state park and a national wildlife refuge established to protect the biodiversity of the lower Rio Grande River.
    Taylor Kate Brown, ProPublica, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Stink bugs, an invasive species originating from eastern Asia and first introduced to the United States in the mid-1990s seek refuge in homes across the country as fall approaches.
    Greta Cross, Freep.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Inside a pavilion built for shelter after Hurricane Iniki struck Kauaʻi in 1992, with paintings of dolphins and waves on the walls, John runs a brief tournament for eight players before a community movie night in Anahola, a homestead neighborhood reserved for Hawaiians.
    Matt Negrin, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Family is fair game if your partner and kids come off well but jokes about your Gulfstream or billionaire retreat might fall flat.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • And as the sheep stood its ground, staring down the would-be herder, viewers online could not help but empathize with the retriever's retreat.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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