1
as in to disappear
to cease to be visible
the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flee
People fled through the carriages seeking safety, with some attempting to barricade themselves in the train restrooms, said other witnesses.
—
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Two masked suspects were seen fleeing from the building after the blast went off in a small section of the fourth-floor hallway, Harvard officials said in an update on Sunday.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
All Gospodinov’s work is time-bound and time-free, haunted by time and fleeing from it.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The officer also may have been assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect fled the scene of the offense.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Two masked suspects were seen fleeing from the building after the blast went off in a small section of the fourth-floor hallway, Harvard officials said in an update on Sunday.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
All Gospodinov’s work is time-bound and time-free, haunted by time and fleeing from it.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The officer also may have been assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect fled the scene of the offense.
—Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flee
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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If at any point María Luisa hesitated, doubtful about the tastefulness of this colossus, those doubts vanished the moment a representative of the city council delivered a witty and audacious explanation of the arch.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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More importantly for automakers’ bottom lines, the financial penalties for not meeting fuel efficiency rules have all but vanished.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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For one night, under cold rain and flickering red lights, the noise faded.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Once summer flowers fade and growth stops, start cleaning up the garden.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Under the public trees, children ran exultantly between cars.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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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 10 Nov. 2025.
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