Definitions

refugees

NOUN

person running from something, often oppression

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alien displaced person emigrant evacuee exile expatriate foreigner

STRONG

DP castaway defector derelict deserter escapee foundling fugitive leper maroon outcast outlaw prodigal renegade runaway

WEAK

boat person expellee homeless person stateless person émigré

Antonyms

STRONGEST

citizen national native

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Around 300,000 refugees have fled to eastern Mauritania's desert Hodh Chargui region to escape the violence that has plagued Mali for more than a decade.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

“Every delay has a human cost,” said Heather Kerr, Congo country director for the International Rescue Committee, a charity that works with refugees.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Cherifa, who is in her sixties, was one of about 10 Malian refugees who spoke to AFP from neighbouring Mauritania about the brutal violence meted out against civilians.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Millions of pounds have been saved by replacing a Palantir IT system which helps to find homes for Ukrainian refugees with one built by its own experts, a government department has said.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

The woods were quiet, no gunshots, the morning air cool, the rising hills misty, and the only people we saw were a few more refugees going the opposite way.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron