1
as in to disappear
to cease to be visible
the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
a murderer who fled on foot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to retreat
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
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 flee
At one event, Loomer, with her hidden camera, filmed Huma Abedin, a longtime Clinton aide, talking about Clinton’s commitment to admitting refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war.
—
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The Jeep’s driver, however, fled and the Jeep was found unoccupied in a Kansas City, Kansas, parking garage.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2025
The suspect had fled the area when officers arrived, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2025
Eyewitness Tommy Corcoran, 19, described hiding behind a log in the nearby park after hearing gunshots and seeing people flee.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The Jeep’s driver, however, fled and the Jeep was found unoccupied in a Kansas City, Kansas, parking garage.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 2025
The suspect had fled the area when officers arrived, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2025
Eyewitness Tommy Corcoran, 19, described hiding behind a log in the nearby park after hearing gunshots and seeing people flee.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flee
Verb
-
More than century later, Veblen’s theory hasn’t disappeared.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Pike played Amy Elliott Dunne opposite Ben Affleck’s Nick in director David Fincher's film adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s 2012 novel about a wife who mysteriously disappears.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When officers began to chase him, Rustrian turned off his car’s lights to try to escape police.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Many winter Texans flock to the city to escape colder temperatures up north, and Mexican citizens also frequent the city for shopping and business.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
As climate change causes sea ice to retreat and the melting zone to expand, these microbes are expected to add more nitrogen to the ocean.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Although Ukraine for now is still maintaining a defense, the fall of Pokrovsk would be one of the most serious defeats Ukraine has suffered since March, when its troops were forced to retreat from Russia's Kursk region.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Pick devices that still get updates after the second product cycle, so bug fixes and security patches don’t vanish the moment a new model lands.—
William Jones,
jsonline.com,
11 Nov. 2025
-
His title once gave him a degree of protection, but that safety net has vanished.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The airline said customers looking for a refund on any flight can get one, even if flying basic economy or with a non-refundable ticket.—
Rachel Scott,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The trailer, soundtracked by a lilting piano melody, reveals the basic premise of the film, which focuses on a young boy named Arco from a distant and peaceful future, where humans live in the sky and use rainbow suits to fly through the air.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For one night, under cold rain and flickering red lights, the noise faded.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Once summer flowers fade and growth stops, start cleaning up the garden.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
There are glimpses of a backstage farce, with Nora trying to use a quickie with her married stage-manager lover (longtime Trier regular Anders Danielsen Lie) to quell a panic attack on opening night, then threatening to bolt.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Under the public trees, children ran exultantly between cars.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The thumping Republicans took in this week's elections reflected longer-running anger among constituencies that already leaned Democratic, but the GOP needs to worry that the government shutdown will cause that frustration to spread.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flee. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share