Definition of resortnext
1
as in haunt
a place for spending time or for socializing the island port was once the resort of smugglers, pirates, and other unsavory characters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in opportunity
something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available use this money only as a last resort

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word resort different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of resort are expedient, makeshift, resource, shift, and stopgap. While all these words mean "something one turns to in the absence of the usual means or source of supply," resource and resort apply to anything one falls back upon.

exhausted all of their resources
a last resort

When is expedient a more appropriate choice than resort?

Although the words expedient and resort have much in common, expedient may apply to any device or contrivance used when the usual one is not at hand or not possible.

a flimsy expedient

When can makeshift be used instead of resort?

In some situations, the words makeshift and resort are roughly equivalent. However, makeshift implies an inferior expedient adopted because of urgent need or allowed through indifference.

old equipment employed as a makeshift

When would shift be a good substitute for resort?

The meanings of shift and resort largely overlap; however, shift implies a tentative or temporary imperfect expedient.

desperate shifts to stave off foreclosure

When could stopgap be used to replace resort?

While the synonyms stopgap and resort are close in meaning, stopgap applies to something used temporarily as an emergency measure.

a new law intended only as a stopgap

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 resort The 45-year-old comedian posted photos from her time at the beach resort, including several shots aboard a boat and footage of her exploring the ocean underwater. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 BofA’s category covers arts and crafts, hobby shops, ski resorts, outdoor retailers, educational toys and some toy stores. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 With Maná, the tribal resort-casino not only gets a tried-and-true legacy act, but also one that is capable of drawing a multigenerational fan base. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 What if rising temperatures shutter all the ski resorts and no one wants to buy The North Face jackets? — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for resort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resort
Noun
  • At Dulles, the local nod in the Etihad Airways-Chase Sapphire lounge is largely limited to photos of matchboxes from classic haunts like Clyde’s and Le Diplomate.
    — Liam Scott, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Totally suggests the pensive headspace of an adult returning to his childhood haunts trying to make sense of it all.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Culver, on the other hand, has practiced as both a prosecutor and assistant public defender, according him ample opportunity to meet juries in county court.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • That dream came true during the pandemic, when the two saw an opportunity to develop a hospitality concept that would remain true to the agricultural character of the property and feed people's ever-growing desire to be out in nature.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Finding no legal recourse in a city with a crooked police department and judiciary, Matt gives in to despair.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
  • These women wanted some recourse over the loss of their reproductive plans.
    — Kim Jackson, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Beirut's private-press scene has little in common with the studio culture of ’80s Tokyo, where an abundance of resources and technology filtered the same foreign influences into something more perfect and polished.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Patching up an outdated, aging infrastructure — like decades-old HVAC, electrical systems and leaking roofs — is a costly, short-term fix that drains our resources and ends up costing the community more.
    — Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Resort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resort. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster