Synonyms for sanctuary
Most common
protection shelter refuge zoar church presbytery shrine asylum
Definitions
- n. 1
A place of safety, refuge, or protection.
My car is a sanctuary, where none can disturb me except for people who cut me off.
- n. 2
The consecrated (or sacred) area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.
Near-synonym: chancel (broadly synonymous)
- n. 3
An area set aside for protection.
The bird sanctuary has strict restrictions on visitors so the birds aren't disturbed.
- n. 4
A state of being protected, asylum.
The government granted sanctuary to the defector, protecting him from his former government.
Related words
- Phrases
- wildlife sanctuary
Forms
- Plural
- sanctuaries → refuges, shelters, protections, harbors…
Example sentences
- protection They may properly claim the protection of the law.
- shelter Tom volunteers at a homeless shelter twice a week.
- refuge Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
- church The wedding will be held in a 17th century church.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| sanctuary | rising | |
| protection | steady | |
| shelter | steady | |
| refuge | steady | |
| church | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- zoar, bema
- 5 letters
- haven2
- 6 letters
- church1, temple2, harbor2, asylum3, refuge2, shrine1, covert2, adytum
- 7 letters
- shelter2, harbour2, sanctum2, chancel
- 8 letters
- security4
- 10 letters
- protection3, presbytery
- 12 letters
- presbyterium
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (haven2 = 2 syllables).