escape 1 of 2

verb

i-ˈskāp How to pronounce escape (audio)
Definition of escapenext
1
as in to flee
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery a judge who is very determined not to let criminals escape punishment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

escape

2 of 2

noun

1
as in flight
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement a daring prison escape

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evasion
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable the reading of science fiction novels as an escape from boring reality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb escape contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of escape are avoid, elude, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

When could avoid be used to replace escape?

The words avoid and escape can be used in similar contexts, but avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When is it sensible to use elude instead of escape?

The words elude and escape are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When is eschew a more appropriate choice than escape?

While in some cases nearly identical to escape, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of escape?

In some situations, the words evade and escape are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would shun be a good substitute for escape?

The meanings of shun and escape largely overlap; however, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

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 escape
Verb
Puff Puff escaped her cat carrier while in the car while driving to the new house. —Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025 Lewis stunned Ziggy with a punch to the eye, jumped into the enclosure’s moat and escaped. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Two exhibitions focused on weaving go beyond the functional, the folkloric, and the feminine, tracking fiber’s escape from the connotations of the grid. —Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2025 At his sentencing hearing in November, Francis also pleaded guilty to a charge related to his September 2022 escape from house arrest. —Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for escape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escape
  1. flee
  2. evade
  3. flight
  4. evasion
  5. fly
  6. avoid
  7. break
  8. avoidance
Verb
  • Fellow dictatorships including Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran lined up behind Maduro while Gonzalez fled the country during the reign of state terror against dissidents that followed the election.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The conflict has forced 12.4 million people to flee their homes and seek safety either elsewhere in Sudan or across the border, including more than half of whom are children (including nearly a third under five).
    — Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of flee
Verb
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended a judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The key benefits of integration include: • Enhanced Threat Detection: By unifying security tools, organizations can achieve a holistic view of their threat landscape, enabling the identification of sophisticated attacks that might evade stand-alone systems.
    — Bob Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Definition of evade
Noun
  • Over the past few days, several celebrities took to social media to voice their disdain for the Blue Origin flight.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Ahmed Walid ‘Now hear me out on Alexander-Arnold…’ Limited to just two wins this season, let this be another for Aaron Ramsdale, who made 105 saves in vain as Southampton got bounced from the top flight.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of flight
Noun
  • According to the Global Tax Evasion Report 2024, tax evasion by wealthy individuals has declined by a factor of three over the last ten years.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • In the meantime, many of the wealthiest Americans have embraced tax evasion.
    — Made by History, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of evasion
Verb
  • Trump also directed that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff in Francis’ honor.
    — Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Listen to this article 2 min The final day of the 2025 NFL Draft is upon us, and these next four rounds will fly by with prospects hoping a dream calls their name to join them.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of fly
Verb
  • Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of avoid
Noun
  • Travelers will need to show documents with the following in order to get a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, per DHS: Need a break?
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Her big break came in 1950, when she was called in to replace the lead singer of the legendary La Sonora Matancera, arguably the best salsa band of all time.
    — Leila Cobo, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of break
Noun
  • His avoidance of assassination by quick reflexes to dodge a bullet's direct hit, and then rising up to display his resilience, provided a perfect tableau to emphasize his survival skills.
    — Barbara A. Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, allergists recommend avoidance, exercise, or relying on over-the-counter medications to fight sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.
    — Sarah Cottone, Health, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of avoidance

Phrases Containing escape

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escapades
escape
escaped
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Cite this Entry

“Escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escape. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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