safe haven

7 synonyms and 1 antonym for safe haven, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A place where someone threatened, frightened or persecuted can go and be protected from harm.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

shelter

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

refuge sanctuary asylum

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

bolt-hole defensive asset store of value

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A place where someone threatened, frightened or persecuted can go and be protected from harm.

“The shelter offers a safe haven for women leaving violent partners.”

refuge sanctuary shelter asylum bolt-hole

2. noun finance

An investment expected to hold or gain value when markets fall, such as gold, government bonds or a strong currency.

“Investors piled into gold as a safe haven after the crash.”

defensive asset store of value

Opposites

risk asset

How to use safe haven

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

provide a safe haven safe haven for refugees safe haven asset

Neutral; equally at home in humanitarian, legal and financial writing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a safe haven and a sanctuary?

A safe haven is defined by the protection it gives from a specific threat, and can be temporary. Sanctuary carries an older sense of a protected, often sacred or legally recognised place, and suggests the pursuer cannot follow you in.

Why is gold called a safe haven?

Because it is not tied to any one government or company's fortunes, so investors buy it when shares and currencies look shaky. The label describes expected behaviour in a crisis, not a guarantee, and safe haven assets can still lose value.

Is safe haven one word or two?

Two words in normal use. As a modifier before a noun it is often hyphenated: a safe-haven currency.

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Nearby words

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