escape 1 of 2

Definition of escapenext

escape

2 of 2

noun

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
Eight pages later, Leucippe has to fake her own beheading to escape from pirates. Literary Hub, 30 June 2026 And if an enclosure isn't tightly secured, your chickens will escape and wander off without any regards for property lines. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Noun
The house is a world she’s made for herself as an escape. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 June 2026 Zermatt is an Alpine escape, accessible via a scenic train that winds its way up through the mountains. Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for escape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escape
Verb
  • Officers learned that the victim who reported the incident initially fled the location, and the three suspects allegedly followed in pursuit.
    Lyanne Wang, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • There was an active arrest warrant for the man for fleeing and eluding, Tony said, and DNA samples had tied him to multiple other crimes.
    Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The suspect, 30‑year‑old Trevion Mark of Fort Worth, was arrested nearby without incident and charged with reckless endangerment and evading arrest in a motor vehicle, according to DPS.
    Doug Myers, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Mark was charged with reckless endangerment and evading arrest in a motor vehicle and booked into the Tarrant County Jail.
    Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The flight landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department took Lopez into custody.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The flight of salsas and chicharrón de queso at Taquearte in Pico Rivera.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The athlete does not let himself be dribbled by the slightest sensitive subject, practicing an art of evasion beneath an XXL smile, under warm spotlights that illuminate his blue linen suit.
    TIME, Time, 26 June 2026
  • The sheriff’s office reports hundreds of arrests, dozens of fugitives apprehended and weapons recovered, along with declines in fare evasion and crime where deputies have been deployed.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Those who rely on custom mobility devices still have to fly commercial or find another way to get to the games, and risk damage to their wheelchairs in the process.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Last year, Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets (Sunny and Gizmo) were about a month older during the fireworks show and had already grown enough feathers to fly away from the nest.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Other methods to reduce the harm from sweltering temperatures include more breaks and flexible shifts so workers can avoid the midday sun, according to the WHO.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • While the morning may feel personal — especially if someone questions your judgment, appearance or direction — avoid treating their feedback (or silence) as rejection.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Mauney, widely seen as the best rider of his generation and someone who braved the hardest bulls to ride, had to retire in 2023 after a neck break on a bull called Arctic Assassin.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes might pitch on the Sunday before the All-Star break, which would make Sánchez a logical choice.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Her remedy isn't avoidance, but direct conversation—giving people space to talk through what went wrong before launching the next effort.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Substance abuse is greatly detrimental in its own right, of course, but sometimes the issues that stem from it—stress, emotional exhaustion, secrecy, avoidance—can have similarly devastating long-term effects on a person’s wellbeing.
    Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escape. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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