Definition of refugeenext
as in exile
a person forced to emigrate for political reasons refugees began returning to their homeland after years of political unrest and war

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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 refugee But Zelenskyy’s decision to name a military unit after the UPA drew fury from Warsaw, which had already shown signs of war fatigue over the influx of refugees and economic drain of supporting Ukraine’s fight. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 June 2026 Cathryn Miller-Wilson is executive director of HIAS Pennsylvania, a refugee agency that serves about 6,000 clients a year. Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Court bars asylum claims before refugees enter US Alito wrote another decision June 25 for a 6-3 majority that allowed the administration to turn back refugees at the border. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Removing all possibility that the president’s xenophobia is nonracial, the administration has implemented what is effectively a whites-only refugee policy that accepts solely South Africans of European descent. Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for refugee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refugee
Noun
  • Like the building itself, the city of Miami has to some extent become synonymous with the Cuban exile community.
    Ada Ferrer, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
  • According to its data, 10 self-immolations by Tibetans have occurred while people were in exile.
    Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The inmate had been in custody at CCDC since June 22 and was a fugitive from another state, police said.
    Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026
  • The wanted fugitive is described as being 6 feet tall with a weight between 147 and 190 pounds.
    Dan Raby, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • After learning of an evil rock promoter’s plan to use heavy metal to keep society sedated in a cycle of hedonistic pleasure, a stylish metallic alien arrives on Earth to save humanity and rock out!
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
  • What Christopher Reeve gets so right as the Man of Steel is bringing nuance, kindness and soaring spirit to an American icon – and an alien nurtured to be the best of us.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • It’s loosely based on an actual Chilean colony where German expatriates tortured prisoners at the behest of General Pinochet.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
  • The Gulf states are home to several million Indian and Pakistani expatriates, and the region supplies much of the oil and gas on which both nations depend.
    Michael Kugelman, Time, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refugee. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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