as in pubs
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises
supposedly, that Broadway hangout was the favorite watering hole for 1940s celebrities
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Recent Examples of watering holes
These watering holes might even attract other beneficial garden animals, says Lapic.
—
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Speaking of rum—Barbados is considered the birthplace of the spirit, after all—you’ll have ample opportunities to imbibe thanks to more than 1,500 watering holes.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2026
Border officials are tentatively signaling support for watering holes for bighorn, as well as the installation of small passages in the wall for wildlife, and floodgates to be left open during storms, according to Aiello, who is working closely with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
At these delightfully divey watering holes, every visible surface is covered in dollars scribbled with the initials, anniversaries, hometowns, inside jokes, dates, or names of anyone who has darkened the doors of that particular bar over the past fifty years—or maybe just the past week.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
Located in Washington Park, the 50-year-old sports bar is a bit of a relic to a decade or two ago in Denver — for better or for worse — when there were sticky neighborhood watering holes all over the place, when wings were cheap and beer choices were limited to Coors Light and Avalanche Ale.
—Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Now the little street is home to adorable watering holes for some old west nightlife.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 12 Jan. 2026
For some businesses, Saturday is the most wonderful day of the year as thousands of Santas visit San Francisco watering holes for Santa Con.
—Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Many of the old watering holes — like Palmer’s Bar, which predates World War I — have struggled and closed amid changing demographics, shifting drinking habits and declining foot traffic.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
Speaking of rum—Barbados is considered the birthplace of the spirit, after all—you’ll have ample opportunities to imbibe thanks to more than 1,500 watering holes.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2026
Border officials are tentatively signaling support for watering holes for bighorn, as well as the installation of small passages in the wall for wildlife, and floodgates to be left open during storms, according to Aiello, who is working closely with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
At these delightfully divey watering holes, every visible surface is covered in dollars scribbled with the initials, anniversaries, hometowns, inside jokes, dates, or names of anyone who has darkened the doors of that particular bar over the past fifty years—or maybe just the past week.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
Located in Washington Park, the 50-year-old sports bar is a bit of a relic to a decade or two ago in Denver — for better or for worse — when there were sticky neighborhood watering holes all over the place, when wings were cheap and beer choices were limited to Coors Light and Avalanche Ale.
—Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Now the little street is home to adorable watering holes for some old west nightlife.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 12 Jan. 2026
For some businesses, Saturday is the most wonderful day of the year as thousands of Santas visit San Francisco watering holes for Santa Con.
—Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Many of the old watering holes — like Palmer’s Bar, which predates World War I — have struggled and closed amid changing demographics, shifting drinking habits and declining foot traffic.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering holes
Noun
-
Local pizzerias expect to do plenty of business on Super Bowl Sunday, but the same won’t necessarily be true for Elgin-area restaurants and pubs whose owners say pro football’s biggest game of the year doesn’t generate big bucks.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
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To relax, people can hit one of the city's many pubs or sip on afternoon tea.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This was the original use for Bar Keepers Friend, to polish brass rails at bars and taverns, often underfoot.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
27 Jan. 2026
-
These establishments range from cozy cafes and historic taverns to strip-mall Italian spots.—
Amanda Hancock,
IndyStar,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Caviar used to be given away in 19th century saloons to encourage drinking.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Until the mid-1950s, most were old-fashioned four-door saloons, but the TD21 changed all that—as did its TE21 and TF21 successors.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Mesa's downtown has so much to explore, with unique art and local shops, to fun restaurants and bars.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Allegiances were declared at watch parties, debated at bars and occasionally broadcast on dating profiles.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Entrepreneur Bob Snow develops Church Street Station, a collection of nightclubs and entertainment venues, in downtown Orlando.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Soon after, they were seen partying around SoCal — from Coachella to Hollywood nightclubs.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watering holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20holes. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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