1
as in flees
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evades
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in breaks
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a daring prison escape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 escapes
Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
In Austin, February is practically a monthlong ode to friendship, from brunches where the mimosas are mandatory to rooftop escapes, DIY adventures and dessert experiments that make staying in feel just as celebratory.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
From mountain towns to beach escapes, the state has no shortage of standout destinations—but one place continues to quietly steal the spotlight.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
The real world is chaotic, and no system escapes that reality.
—Grace Brown, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Read on for the best resorts across Arizona, from sumptuous spa escapes in Scottsdale to dreamy adobe cottages in Tucson.
—Asonta Benetti, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Unlike nitrogen, which easily escapes from soil into the air or groundwater, phosphorus sticks to soil particles.
—Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
When air leaks through that shell, heated or cooled air escapes, and the HVAC system has to work harder to keep up.
—Brynn Cooksey, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Advertisement That’s not to say the show escapes every Marvel (and particularly Disney-Marvel) pitfall.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
And that figure is only poised to rise, as more and more travelers choose restorative escapes over traditional sightseeing, prioritizing the chance to feel refreshed as much as the destination itself.
—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
The warmth and natural beauty of the Sunshine State drew Northerners seeking seasonal escapes and setting the table for Central Florida’s tourism industry to bloom.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
In one of the most extraordinary escapes in tennis history, Carlos Alcaraz overcame sickness and major physical difficulties to defeat Alexander Zverev in five sets and reach his first Australian Open final.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The selections span the globe, from nature-forward escapes and under-the-radar cities to classic destinations being reimagined in new ways.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The film tells the stories of a dozen refugees who, like Pham, survived perilous escapes and went on to build successful lives in the United States.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2026
Property taxes have risen by an average of forty per cent since 2020, when fugitives made their hopeful escapes from New York and New England, worsening the cycle of rising land values, rising taxes, and bigger bills for longtime locals.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Interest in rural escapes has boomed for Gen Z travelers over the past two years, with a 300% spike year-over-year in guest reviews mentioning farms on Vrbo.
—Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
When cooked straight from frozen, that fractured surface dries quickly as moisture turns to steam and escapes before the interior fully softens.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
In Austin, February is practically a monthlong ode to friendship, from brunches where the mimosas are mandatory to rooftop escapes, DIY adventures and dessert experiments that make staying in feel just as celebratory.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 7 Feb. 2026
From mountain towns to beach escapes, the state has no shortage of standout destinations—but one place continues to quietly steal the spotlight.
—Abby Price, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2026
The real world is chaotic, and no system escapes that reality.
—Grace Brown, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Read on for the best resorts across Arizona, from sumptuous spa escapes in Scottsdale to dreamy adobe cottages in Tucson.
—Asonta Benetti, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Unlike nitrogen, which easily escapes from soil into the air or groundwater, phosphorus sticks to soil particles.
—Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
When air leaks through that shell, heated or cooled air escapes, and the HVAC system has to work harder to keep up.
—Brynn Cooksey, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Advertisement That’s not to say the show escapes every Marvel (and particularly Disney-Marvel) pitfall.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
More folk are looking for escapes that take them to the most remote corners of earth—many of which these larger animals like humpback whales, sperm whales, and giant manta rays call home.
—Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
And that figure is only poised to rise, as more and more travelers choose restorative escapes over traditional sightseeing, prioritizing the chance to feel refreshed as much as the destination itself.
—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
The warmth and natural beauty of the Sunshine State drew Northerners seeking seasonal escapes and setting the table for Central Florida’s tourism industry to bloom.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
In one of the most extraordinary escapes in tennis history, Carlos Alcaraz overcame sickness and major physical difficulties to defeat Alexander Zverev in five sets and reach his first Australian Open final.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The selections span the globe, from nature-forward escapes and under-the-radar cities to classic destinations being reimagined in new ways.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The film tells the stories of a dozen refugees who, like Pham, survived perilous escapes and went on to build successful lives in the United States.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2026
Property taxes have risen by an average of forty per cent since 2020, when fugitives made their hopeful escapes from New York and New England, worsening the cycle of rising land values, rising taxes, and bigger bills for longtime locals.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Interest in rural escapes has boomed for Gen Z travelers over the past two years, with a 300% spike year-over-year in guest reviews mentioning farms on Vrbo.
—Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escapes
Verb
-
The president flees these tradeoffs as a matter of course and flip-flops unpredictably when pressures rise.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Benedict’s offer is met with deafening silence, before Sophie flees his embrace in distress.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Experts who spoke to Flow Space are hopeful that these new approvals will provide the necessary tools to treat a disease that evades treatment by constantly mutating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Dec. 2025
-
In the film, Sea-Based X-Band Radar detects a missile flying across the Pacific Ocean toward Chicago that later evades interception.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
John Merryman Redondo Beach As the NBA season breaks for All-Star weekend, there is one player who is single-handedly leading his fractured team to victory after victory, with his great scoring, passing and stout defense.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
When workers asked politicians in Miami-Dade County for a measure that would ensure basic protections like water and breaks, it was derailed by construction and agriculture lobbyists.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When a mosquito comes and bites him, the bug immediately tastes the spice in his blood and flies away only to combust moments later.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Five cookline flies and two dishwasher area flies were landing on kitchen walls and shelves.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The message also avoids links on purpose.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
To the Kremlin’s frustration, the plan also avoids any provision that would force Ukraine to give up territory to the Russians.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
El Paso International Airport, which issued a notice late Tuesday, said all commercial, cargo and general aviation flights would be grounded until February 20.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
With new Safari Air Africa flights leaving three times a week from Beira to Gorongosa, and twice-weekly flights from Beira to Vilanculos, bush and beach destinations can be accessed by air.—
Lisa Grainger,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
High school football in La Jolla this week was a tale of two routs — one on the positive side and the other not so much.—
La Jolla Light,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Let the home routs and the Albertsons Stadium invincibility continue.—
Jim Keyser,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Flash-bangs, developed for hostage rescues and designed to temporarily blind or stun, should not be used in demonstrations, PERF said.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Fort Worth Fire Department said the agency responded to two high-water calls with cars stuck in water, but no rescues were needed.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escapes. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
