shelter 1 of 2

noun

ˈshel-tər How to pronounce shelter (audio)
Definition of shelternext
as in refuge
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger the sudden fierce storm forced us to run to the nearest shelter

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shelter

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to protect
to be or provide a shelter for the abandoned barn shelters a colony of stray cats

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to house
to provide with living quarters or shelter sheltered the troops in tents until permanent barracks could be built

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shelter
Noun
Along the roadside, even the goats were taking shelter in patches of shade under the banyan and mango trees. — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026 Natomas resident and business owner Anabel Gonzalez is a part of a group suing the city in an effort to stop the shelter from being built. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
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 barn likely served several purposes over the years, which includes possibly sheltering animals and vehicles while also providing workshop and storage space. — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shelter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shelter
  1. refuge
  2. protect
  3. house
  4. sanctuary
  5. camp
  6. retreat
  7. accommodate
  8. roof
Noun
  • Following the advice of food bloggers and influencers, overzealous visitors have thronged a rifugio (refuge) in Italy’s Val di Fassa valley, all because of this traditional pastry.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • As more than 50 others sought refuge in L’Arche de la Nouvelle Alliance, a Protestant church that had been sheltering people already displaced by the violence, the gunmen pursued them.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of refuge
Verb
  • Play was suspended on the outside courts, but the roofs could close on Armstrong and Ashe, protecting Bublik and Wolf, and Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone, from the elements.
    — Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Families who answer those questions early protect both generations.
    — Jon Sabes, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of protect
Verb
  • In 1985, Dior issued a limited edition bracelet meant to house their famous Poison perfume, a thick, hollow noodle finished with resin stoppers that could be filled with the scent.
    — Chloe Schama, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Animation series will be housed at the Hotel Sina Bernini Bristol, with new programs titled Animation Next and Gap Financing.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • Situated by the storied Osaka Castle, Patina Osaka is a modern urban sanctuary that pays homage to the Japanese city’s singular beauty and immerses guests in its dynamic culture.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Her condition ultimately deteriorated, and veterinarians were unable to revive her after her heart stopped, according to the sanctuary.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sanctuary
Verb
  • Hundreds of residents returned to the streets the following day, marching toward the Trampolín and Benítez beach areas where migrants were camped and repeating the same chant, according to EFE.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The mutineers remained camped at the military base within the airport complex for several hours, resisting efforts from loyalist forces, until Russia’s Africa Corps intervened with ground and aerial support, several analysts said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of camp
Noun
  • There is a lot riding on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s speech here Friday morning at the Fed’s storied annual retreat in the Tetons.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Warsh, despite his arrival as a disruptor of Fed protocol, embraced that summer-retreat spirit.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • Simmer said there’s enough geographic diversity in the league to hold games in February because warm weather markets are able to accommodate them.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The various configurations allow the property to accommodate a range of needs, budgets, and even levels of privacy, making the experience that much more customizable.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • Professional help needed KCK needs licensed electricians, contractors, roofing professionals and more to help with the city’s rebuild.
    — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In Pittsburgh, where affordability increasingly depends not only on building new homes but also on preserving existing ones, roof repair and building maintenance are part of the larger infrastructure conversation.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of roof

Browse Nearby Words

shells out
shelter
sheltered
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Cite this Entry

“Shelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shelter. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shelter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shelter

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