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.

She spent her early childhood in Sri Lanka before her family returned to London as refugees during the country’s civil war.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

The attacks come as sensitivities around migrants have grown in parts of Germany following a large influx of asylum seekers and refugees in 2015.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Enchassi had grown up in Lebanon, in a family of Palestinian refugees.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

He has called on the bishops to defend the rights and dignity of immigrants and refugees, and they have answered by submitting legal briefs to the Supreme Court on their behalf.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

In many cases, this doomed the refugees to starvation.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari