1
as in disappearing
to cease to be visible
the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escaping
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
a murderer who fled on foot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in retreating
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
a toddler who fled when the ladybug he had been quietly watching suddenly began flying around the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fleeing
In between people fleeing their homes and a severe financial crisis, many abandoned their pets.
—
Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Her grandparents, Edward and Sallie Bryant, emigrated from Kentucky in 1880 along with tens of thousands of other Exoduster families fleeing the racial violence and economic exploitation of the post-Civil War South.
—Elijah Winkler, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
The warrant declaration states that footage from a Ring camera captured images of Rebecca Marodi fleeing their home as her wife chased her.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Cellphone records place him in the area of the Colony Apartments in Kendall during the shooting, prosecutors say, and an eyewitness identified Jones as the man fleeing the scene after the shooting.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
After that, detectives said the driver backed up and hit the deputy's vehicle a second time before fleeing the scene on West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The story begins with two teens fleeing into the night where one is killed by her possessed mother.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Atlanta Falcons star rookie James Pearce was arrested Saturday and accused of domestic violence and fleeing from police.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Authorities say she was forced to remain outside while the suspects ransacked the residence and a Mercedes Sprinter van parked on the property before fleeing the scene.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Her grandparents, Edward and Sallie Bryant, emigrated from Kentucky in 1880 along with tens of thousands of other Exoduster families fleeing the racial violence and economic exploitation of the post-Civil War South.
—Elijah Winkler, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2026
The warrant declaration states that footage from a Ring camera captured images of Rebecca Marodi fleeing their home as her wife chased her.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Cellphone records place him in the area of the Colony Apartments in Kendall during the shooting, prosecutors say, and an eyewitness identified Jones as the man fleeing the scene after the shooting.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
After that, detectives said the driver backed up and hit the deputy's vehicle a second time before fleeing the scene on West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The story begins with two teens fleeing into the night where one is killed by her possessed mother.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Atlanta Falcons star rookie James Pearce was arrested Saturday and accused of domestic violence and fleeing from police.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Authorities say she was forced to remain outside while the suspects ransacked the residence and a Mercedes Sprinter van parked on the property before fleeing the scene.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleeing
Verb
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The Today co-host’s mother has been missing for four days after disappearing from her Arizona home.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Feb. 2026
-
An unlikely champion is working to conserve the disappearing cats.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Later, Hamilton parts the sea on his kick scooter, speedily escaping from the hectic press area.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The magistrate and her elderly mother were held for 30 hours in a garage in southern France’s Drôme region before escaping, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dinner usually means a lively table at Sweet Basil or Mountain Standard before retreating back to the hotel for a nightcap and a hot tub soak.—
Bailey Berg,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Software stocks led the latest downdraft, with the S & P 500 software index sliding 5% Thursday and retreating for a seventh straight day, helping push the entire S & P 500 lower for a third day.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Take that, panic over vanishing attention spans!—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
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Federal aid is expected to plunge dramatically in the next few years, particularly involving Medicaid and nutrition assistance, and many Connecticut lawmakers want to supplant some of those vanishing grants from Washington with local dollars.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wasserman has previously admitted to flying with Epstein on the financier’s private plane on a trip to Africa with Maxwell and former President Clinton.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Winter Olympic athletes, particularly those who compete in events that involve flying down a mountain or icy track at breakneck speeds, are not exactly known for self-preservation instincts.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The high-stakes move is aimed at stopping a half-dozen suburbs from bolting from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the crushing depths of the ocean or the vacuum of deep space, one of the key threats to technology is the fading battery.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
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Amid the recent furore, that trust and respect seem to be all but fading.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Puppy Bowl, the longest-running call-to-adoption television event, returns for its 22nd year.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Feb. 2026
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Raman is one of over two dozen candidates running against Bass, as the mayor has faced sweeping scrutiny for her handling of the Los Angeles fires, among other issues.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fleeing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleeing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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