1
as in withdrew
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 fled
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 retreated
The teachers retreated, some taking cover in the room.
—
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
Tatum briefly retreated toward the locker room during the third quarter of the Celtics’ 106-93 defeat at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday night.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Coe reportedly was hospitalized several years ago with Covid-19 and had mostly retreated from public appearances since then, though it is not known whether Covid played a part in his passing.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
After the goring, the animal retreated back into the reserve when scared off by other patrol members.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
After the goring, the rhino retreated back into the reserve when other patrol members scared it off.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
Another team member suffered minor injuries, and the rhino retreated back into the reserve unharmed.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
Shares retreated in Asia and oil prices gained on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war once again appeared to stall.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
But precisely as its students triumphed, Achievement First retreated from its founding commitments.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 1 May 2026
Tatum briefly retreated toward the locker room during the third quarter of the Celtics’ 106-93 defeat at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday night.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Coe reportedly was hospitalized several years ago with Covid-19 and had mostly retreated from public appearances since then, though it is not known whether Covid played a part in his passing.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
After the goring, the animal retreated back into the reserve when scared off by other patrol members.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
After the goring, the rhino retreated back into the reserve when other patrol members scared it off.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
Another team member suffered minor injuries, and the rhino retreated back into the reserve unharmed.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
Shares retreated in Asia and oil prices gained on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war once again appeared to stall.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
But precisely as its students triumphed, Achievement First retreated from its founding commitments.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreated
Verb
-
Camp Mystic officials withdrew their application to reopen this summer, a day after an emotional legislative hearing attended by the parents of the girls killed by a flood at the camp last year.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
-
Trump withdrew his first nominee, Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat, after questions were raised about her academic credentials.—
Ali Swenson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The job requires some versatility, one deputy working on the team said, citing times people have fled or had drugs in the car.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Among the suspects was Juan Colmenero, 20, of Emeryville, who investigators said fled to Puerto Rico following the deadly shooting.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Police swarmed in, and the people in the car bolted and were also on the loose in the surrounding neighborhood early Monday morning.—
Kris Habermehl,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
According to other attendees, including Times journalists, event staffers were checking tickets, though not very thoroughly, at multiple points prior to escalators that descended to the metal detectors where Allen allegedly bolted past armed security.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nearly a year after 10 inmates escaped a New Orleans jail through a hole in the wall, a special grand jury has indicted the local sheriff on criminal corruption and obstruction charges in connection with the biggest jailbreak in recent American history.—
Greg Hilburn,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Authorities said the 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in the early morning hours after climbing through a hole behind a toilet.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Sometimes the batteries on the trackers would run low, and McGovern’s team would need to remove and recharge the devices, before surreptitiously replacing them.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retreated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreated. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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