HARBORED Synonyms: 94 Similar and Opposite Words

harbored

verb

past tense of harbor

as in had

to keep in one's mind or heart he had long harbored a grudge against his old employer, who had high-handedly fired him without cause

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in housed

to provide with living quarters or shelter the woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sheltered

to be or provide a shelter for the little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exposed

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 harbored Vessels have continued to endure more attacks for sailing through the conduit, which before the war in Iran harbored as much as 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Lang was known to sail around the world and frequently harbored in Hawaii. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Nor will viewers be surprised by the secret harbored by ring-girl Kim (Tahirah Sharif), whose interest in Duke is both predictably motivated and generally chemistry-free. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Having grown up with the Larrabees’ children, Sabrina has always harbored feelings for David (Greg Kinnear), though he’s never reciprocated. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026 Officials said the suspects harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government. — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 The new findings showed that symptom-free older adults who harbored very high levels of p-tau217 had a 38% risk of developing cognitive impairment over five years. — ABC News, 15 July 2026 Officials have said the group members harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government. — Julie Carr Smyth, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 Nandini Jammi, a fellow marketer, harbored the same concerns about digital marketing technologies. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbored

Verb

Three victims had serious injuries but were in stable condition, while two others had minor injuries.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
When the islanders first got their phones back while in Fiji, Melanie had a video call with her sister in an unseen clip.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of had

Verb

The Foscarini Signature Suite (which housed the Doge) is approximately 966 square feet and also offers Grand Canal views.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Off-grid residents blur the line between housed and homeless, as county officials juggle lax enforcement, environmental damage, real estate scams and calls to legalize basic services such as addresses and trash pickup.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of housed

Verb

The evidence suggests that back then a thicker, ancient atmosphere sheltered flowing streams and sparkling lakes.

— Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
The space station has had a leak on the Russian side for several years, and astronauts recently and briefly sheltered in a Crew Dragon during discussions of a fix.

— Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of sheltered

Verb

The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.

— Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.

— Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 6 Aug. 2025

Definition of held

Verb

Her school from fourth to seventh grade, Colegio San Agustín Makati, accommodated her tournament schedule.

— Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
The United Kingdom and the United States ran deficits that accommodated both Japan’s and Germany’s surpluses.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of accommodated

Verb

In filings with the New York bankruptcy court overseeing the case, both Spirit’s representatives and the interested bidders say privacy and personal identity will be protected.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
From the sprawling stone forts of early American history in the north, to the mangroves of the Everglades and protected reefs of Biscayne to the south, our state is a masterpiece of biodiversity and coastal wonder.

— Lulu Vilas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of protected

Verb

Slattery will play James Leavitt, a highly experienced and formidable defense lawyer retained by City Hall to counter Jason’s class-action lawsuit.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
However, the Venezuelan native still faces deportation and has retained an attorney.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of retained

Verb

Despite surgery, however, the bullet lodged inside his abdomen was not found, and his condition suddenly deteriorated.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Castro is accused of firing a gun through the front door of a Minneapolis home, striking Sosa-Celis in the leg with a bullet that lodged in a child’s bedroom wall.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of lodged

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“Harbored.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbored. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of harbored

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