1
as in withdrawing
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
we retreated to the safety of the cellar at the first sign of the tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fleeing
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the untried soldiers retreated in humiliating disarray almost as soon as the enemy's onslaught began
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retreating
At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.
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Erin Somers, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Even with state and federal backing, developers are retreating and selling properties, signaling that grassroots activism is fundamentally reshaping Big Tech’s expansion strategy.
—Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
Twice, Chambliss appeared to be running for his life to avoid sacks, retreating well behind the line of scrimmage and changing direction before finding school yard-type completions during a 75-yard scoring drive that ended with Lacy’s second touchdown.
—Brett Martel, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
One by one, vapers emerged from the doorway and sized me up, before retreating back inside.
—Ean Soh, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
There’s nothing more luxurious than retreating into a space that feels like an exclusive spa at home, whether that space is created in a primary bathroom or an outdoor living space.
—Jackson Design and Remodeling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
No one suggested retreating inside.
—Marin Wolf — Boston Globe, STAT, 30 Dec. 2025
Gold's resilience was demonstrated by its quick recovery after retreating from a previous peak of $4,381 in October, when the rally was seen as overheated.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
Our fatal flaw, in my opinion, was assuming that moving forward was safer than retreating.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreating
Verb
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But again, no school can prevent a player from withdrawing and enrolling elsewhere.—
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With his previous attorney withdrawing from the case, arraignment was postponed Wednesday for Rob Reiner’s youngest son, who is charged with murdering the famed filmmaker and his photographer wife Michele in their Brentwood home.—
Verb
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The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.—
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The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene, officials said.—
Verb
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The reigning world champion returned to competitive skating last season with a bang after retiring following the 2022 Beijing Olympics.—
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The school will hold a ceremony retiring her jersey at halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Sierra Canyon and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.—
Verb
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Hall was in net when Boston's Bobby Orr scored in overtime to win the Cup for the Bruins in 1970, a goal that's among the most famous in hockey history because of the flying through the air celebration that followed.—
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While some travelers praise the trend for reducing stress and avoiding baggage fees, others say flying without bags is unrealistic for longer trips or work travel.—
Verb
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Moments later, bodycam video shows Hairston suddenly bolting from deputies, stumbling into the road and engaging in a struggle with deputies.—
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The police footage shows the man turning and bolting away from officers before quickly tripping over his own feet just a few steps past his car.—
Verb
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Her grandfather, George Craig, had made his way there after escaping enslavement with the aid of John Brown, and was working as a barber in the town of Grinnell.—
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Regardless of our paths — whether that meant escaping war in Ethiopia or being the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors — many of us labor under the belief that this work requires us to commit to the ideals of this nation and not the indignation and nightmare of the insurrection.—
Verb
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Mayor Armin Mizani, who is running for Texas House District 98, had sought to make Keller the first city in the nation to codify a ban on Islam’s legal system.—
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DeRozan received the pass, took one dribble and tried a running 29-foot 3-pointer that clanked off the back rim and the Kings lost, 100-98.—
Cite this Entry
“Retreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreating. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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