1
as in having
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accommodating
to provide with living quarters or shelter
the woods in our suburb harbor deer, foxes, raccoons, and skunks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sheltering
to be or provide a shelter for
the little cabin is harbored from the wind by a thick growth of pines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harboring
The state said Hollis was wrong for harboring bitterness toward him.
—
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Washington and Hollywood have long had an awkward relationship, with players in each power center harboring insecurities and misunderstandings about the other as politics and entertainment have steadily merged into a single cultural force.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors have dropped a felony charge against a Baltimore woman accused of harboring her nephew, who was missing for nearly six months, according to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Later this year, two spacecraft are scheduled for launch on missions to land somewhere near the rim of Shackleton Crater, an impact basin near the Moon’s south pole harboring an immense reservoir of water ice.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2026
Using the text as a base, this piece tells the story of an unlikely bond — a ship’s Captain harboring a stowaway accused of murder —through a mix of words, dance, music, sound, and art installation.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Islamabad was isolated by Washington following its role harboring Osama bin Laden, but Pakistan is now out of the wilderness.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The strait is a significant trade artery for oil, harboring roughly 20 percent of the world’s supply of oil and natural gas.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Washington and Hollywood have long had an awkward relationship, with players in each power center harboring insecurities and misunderstandings about the other as politics and entertainment have steadily merged into a single cultural force.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors have dropped a felony charge against a Baltimore woman accused of harboring her nephew, who was missing for nearly six months, according to the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Later this year, two spacecraft are scheduled for launch on missions to land somewhere near the rim of Shackleton Crater, an impact basin near the Moon’s south pole harboring an immense reservoir of water ice.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2026
Using the text as a base, this piece tells the story of an unlikely bond — a ship’s Captain harboring a stowaway accused of murder —through a mix of words, dance, music, sound, and art installation.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Islamabad was isolated by Washington following its role harboring Osama bin Laden, but Pakistan is now out of the wilderness.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
The strait is a significant trade artery for oil, harboring roughly 20 percent of the world’s supply of oil and natural gas.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.
—William Earl, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harboring
Verb
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Though signs of its impending closure were all around this past weekend, the New Black Wall Street Market was having one last hurrah.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Prosecutors say Maduro and Rodriguez authorized a series of payments totaling $20 million under terms of the PDV USA contract before having a falling out with Rivera’s group by the end of 2017.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The robots then pick up the ball and copy the instructor's behavior, adjusting for their own position and accommodating their non-human bodies.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The remaining two residences are larger, each with a fourth bedroom and accommodating up to 11 adults.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Evelyn, a Filipina caregiver sheltering with her three children beneath the Central Bus Station, declined to give her last name out of fear of deportation.—
Theia Chatelle,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
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The union said the IDF then struck a building where the two reporters were sheltering two hours later.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Former Canadiens captain Yvan Cournoyer entered the Bell Centre from that plaza holding a torch, walked it into the building and the arena bowl, setting off the Canadiens’ traditional playoff ritual of the ice catching fire, and the building roared.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The top of his head drilled Bona’s chest, and the Celtics guard crumbled to the court, holding his neck.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The proposal would require relocation of about 330 current residents in treatment programs while the four buildings housing those programs were being renovated — with no indication where they would be temporarily housed or for how long.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Though our agency's structure is changing, the monumental impact of their work—housing nearly 80,000 people over three years—speaks for itself.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ahead of them, Joe Willock (white) was in position to defend a short corner and Jacob Murphy (orange) played a hybrid role to help disrupt Gabriel, before protecting the area near the penalty spot and also keeping an eye out for late runners.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Our highest priority is the safety of our people, the security of our assets, protecting the environment.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Those vessels were apparently Indian, with New Delhi lodging a complaint with Tehran.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Vietnam, with lodging for as little as $15 a night and inexpensive local cuisine.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For years, state regulators had asked the Sheriff’s Office to stop triple-bunking people, a practice the department acknowledged was dangerous.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harboring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harboring. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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