asylum

noun

ə-ˈsī-ləm How to pronounce asylum (audio)
Definition of asylumnext
as in refuge
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger the embassy serves as an asylum for that country's nationals in need of help

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 asylum One person awaiting asylum who does not have any tattoos and whose government documentation was riddled with mistakes was also deported. — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2025 Lawsuits filed by the ACLU, the National Immigration Law Center, and multiple other bodies have halted or delayed several Trump initiatives, including attempts to expand asylum restrictions and deputize local law enforcement as immigration agents. — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Aside from the tensions with Belarus, Poland has also long been at odds with the EU’s leadership over the issue of refugees and asylum across the bloc. — Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025 Had Reyes Mota still been in the United States, the hearing related to his asylum request would have been a commonplace matter. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for asylum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asylum
  1. refuge
  2. shelter
  3. sanctuary
  4. retreat
Noun
  • Historically, during periods of market turbulence and economic uncertainty, investors typically seek refuge in safe-haven assets—with U.S. Treasury bonds and the dollar being the traditional gold standards of security.
    — Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The first drop pays homage to Jackson, Wyo., where Season 2 begins, after the two main characters found temporary refuge there in Season 1.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of refuge
Noun
  • In early February, Amira Abdallah left her shelter in the Abu Shouk displacement camp in Darfur, Sudan, carrying an old stainless steel bowl.
    — Violet Ikong, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This year San Jose plans to open another 1,000 interim housing and shelter options.
    — Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of shelter
Noun
  • The Social Athens Hotel is a stylish urban sanctuary in the heart of Kolonaki, one of the city's chicest neighborhoods.
    — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Nai Lert Park is a lush, seven-acre pocket of tropical landscaping in the heart of downtown, making the hotel feel like an urban sanctuary in the truest sense: the air smelled faintly of frangipani; the chirping of birds overpowered the traffic din.
    — Chris Schaklx, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of sanctuary
Noun
  • At the same time, separate wings or private suites offer peaceful retreats.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025
  • That so far appears to be a major victory, not a retreat.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of retreat

Browse Nearby Words

aswoon
asylum
asylums
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Asylum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asylum. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on asylum

Nglish: Translation of asylum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about asylum

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