1
as in to nestle
to establish or place comfortably or snugly the kids had contentedly ensconced themselves on the couch before the TV happily ensconced in her new home

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2
as in to conceal
to put into a hiding place ensconced the spare house key in a place where no intruder would think to look

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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 ensconce The Mammals performed, and Merenda described what felt like a magical evening, the mountain ensconced in fog. Lindsay Crudele, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023 These days, guests awaiting an audience are able to wander the vast main floor in relative peace, since Donatella herself is now ensconced upstairs in a brand-new suite—an oasis of serenity created by annexing the apartment directly above. Anita Sarsidi, ELLE Decor, 12 May 2023 Compounding the upheaval, James, now ensconced as the third Laird of Rossie, frequently neglected to pay the allowance that had been bequeathed to his half brothers and half sister: some people’s blood was apparently thicker than others’. David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023 Once ensconced at the Swissotel in Tallinn, the women hear the fateful knock knock knock at the door. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for ensconce 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ensconce
Verb
  • This is particularly a problem when cooking bacon on the stovetop as most skillets are already just wide enough to nestle the strips inside, let alone after they’re stretched out.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025
  • This rare fish, known for its vibrant colors and unique features, was found in the Kalimpong District, nestled between Nepal and Bhutan.
    Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Russia has to contend with a scenario where any shipping container in Ukraine – and there are tens of thousands - could potentially be concealing one of these systems.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
  • The fact this all plays out in real-time heightens that effect considerably, sweeping us up in the maelstrom of Hart’s bravado thanks to Hawke’s signature charm, even if it is undercut by something else barely concealed below the surface.
    David Opie, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The most recent numbers showed 1,016 arrests were made and 814 detainers were lodged on Jan. 29.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Meanwhile, on January 29, ICE reported more than 1,000 arrests and 814 detainers were lodged as having probable cause for deportation.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Even stripped of defenses, facilities buried deep underground will be hard to destroy.
    Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
  • He’s got a secret stash of company intel buried in a trunk.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Visiting the Vatican City masterpiece is not the same, Watts argues, as witnessing the artist perched on scaffolding in the act of creation.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Weedman Design Partners This home remodel by Weedman Design Partners was devised to embrace its natural surroundings, perched on a lake near the Oregon coast.
    Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • His wife, Avital, who was seven months pregnant at the time, hid in a safe room with their two daughters.
    Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Dylan notices the slogan and examines the poster to find that Irv hid his drawing of the Exports Hall, with detailed instructions on how to get there written on the back, behind it.
    Megan McCluskey, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Plus, Canada’s population is diverse—in part because during Trump’s first term, Trudeau positioned Canada as a safer alternative for immigrants.
    Talib Visram, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025
  • By adding to a treasure trove of assets, Peterson is positioning the Hornets to be in the conversation and at the table in the offseason trade market, when player movement is often more calculated.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Applying early — before her full retirement age of 67 — means settling for a smaller check.
    Liz Weston, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025
  • Iowa State didn’t have the same problem as the Cyclones began to settle in.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Feb. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near ensconce

Cite this Entry

“Ensconce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ensconce. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

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