refugee

noun

ˌre-fyu̇-ˈjē How to pronounce refugee (audio)
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

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 refugee And Europe has become less welcoming to Afghan refugees in recent years. — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Aug. 2026 Those who evade immediate capture may later qualify for refugee status in Canada. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 Some have been stranded in third countries since Washington suspended its refugee admissions program in January 2025 and subsequently imposed sweeping restrictions on the entry of Afghan nationals. — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026 Switzerland has selected Nicolas Wadimoff’s Who is Still Alive, a documentary about nine Palestinian refugees who escaped the violence in Gaza, as its official pick for the 2027 Oscar race in the best international feature category. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refugee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refugee
  1. exile
  2. fugitive
  3. alien
  4. expatriate
Noun
  • This film weaves that footage with new images of his exile, a poetic documentary essay that refuses the urgency of breaking news.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Minotaur, with its veiled criticism of Putin and Zvyagintsev’s status in exile, is in similar terrain to Panahi’s film.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of exile
Noun
  • Narez later fled the country and remained a fugitive for nearly three decades, authorities said.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Matthew Christopher Flores Semyonov, 27, is considered a fugitive from the law after his parents’ remains were found in the backyard of their Litchfield Park, Ariz.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of fugitive
Noun
  • And didn’t Hal’s hunch help expose an alien that not only looked exactly like a human male, but also passed an X-ray without sending up any red flags?
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The older Green Lantern taunted the alien so much, that the creature detonated itself, blowing a hole into the side of the jail.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of alien
Noun
  • Likewise, the Relief Procedures for Certain Former Citizens provides a pathway for eligible former citizens with minimal tax liability to resolve outstanding filing obligations without becoming covered expatriates.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • His success in the States landed him on the Israeli reality series The Americans, which follows Israeli expatriates chasing the American dream in the United States.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Definition of expatriate

Browse Nearby Words

refuged
refugee
refugees
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Cite this Entry

“Refugee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refugee. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on refugee

Nglish: Translation of refugee for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about refugee

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