The refugee crossed the line safely.
Source: tatoeba (43988)
Refugee
/ˈɹɛfjʊd͡ʒiː/
Synonyms for "refugee" (45 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (9)
Strong matches (14)
Related words (22)
fugitivegringooutcastoutlanderoutlawoutsiderrunagaterunawayskedaddlerstateless personstrangerthe wandering jewtramontaneuitlanderultramontanewanderer
Noun(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absconder, alien, asylum seeker, barbarian, bolter.
- Sentence evidence is available for refugee, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wiktionary, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "refugee".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "refugee"
Keep "refugee" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "refugee" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "refugee", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "refugee" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
7 entriesconvention refugeeeconomic refugeepolitical refugeeregistered refugeereligious refugeeunregistered refugeewar refugee
Collocations
5 entriesrefugee camprefugee crisisrefugee integrationrefugee policyrefugee status
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
26 translations across 20 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- փախստական noun (person granted formal asylum)
Belarusian
4 entries- бе́жанец noun (person granted formal asylum)
- бе́жанка noun (person granted formal asylum)
- уцяка́ч noun (person granted formal asylum)
- уцяка́чка noun (person granted formal asylum)
Bulgarian
2 entries- бежане́ц noun (person granted formal asylum)
- бежанка́ noun (person granted formal asylum)
Catalan
1 entries- refugiat noun (person granted formal asylum)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 難民 /难民 noun (person granted formal asylum)
Czech
1 entries- uprchlík noun (person granted formal asylum)
Finnish
1 entries- pakolainen noun (person granted formal asylum)
German
1 entries- Flüchtling noun (person granted formal asylum)
Hindi
1 entries- शरणार्थी noun (person granted formal asylum)
Hungarian
1 entries- menekült noun (person granted formal asylum)
Malay
1 entries- pelari noun (person granted formal asylum)
Malayalam
1 entries- അഭയാർത്ഥി noun (person granted formal asylum)
Māori
1 entries- konene noun (person granted formal asylum)
Polish
1 entries- uchodźca noun (person granted formal asylum)
Portuguese
1 entries- asilado noun (person granted formal asylum)
Russian
2 entries- бе́женец noun (person granted formal asylum)
- бе́женка noun (person granted formal asylum)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- fògarrach noun (person granted formal asylum)
Swahili
1 entries- mkimbizi noun (person granted formal asylum)
Tamil
1 entries- அகதி noun (person granted formal asylum)
Ukrainian
2 entries- бі́женець noun (person granted formal asylum)
- бі́женка noun (person granted formal asylum)
Sample sentences
16 total sentences available.
The principal cause of death in refugee camps is the lack of nourishment.
Source: tatoeba (280807)
Sanitary conditions in the refugee camps were terrible.
Source: tatoeba (280808)
He donated $10000 to the refugee fund.
Source: tatoeba (302145)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "refugee"?
Closest matches include absconder, alien, asylum seeker, barbarian, bolter.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "refugee"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.