escape 1 of 2

verb

i-ˈskāp How to pronounce escape (audio)
Definition of escapenext
1
as in to flee
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
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

escape

2 of 2

noun

1
as in flight
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement a daring prison escape

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evasion
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable the reading of science fiction novels as an escape from boring reality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb escape contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of escape are avoid, elude, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

When could avoid be used to replace escape?

The words avoid and escape can be used in similar contexts, but avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When is it sensible to use elude instead of escape?

The words elude and escape are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When is eschew a more appropriate choice than escape?

While in some cases nearly identical to escape, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of escape?

In some situations, the words evade and escape are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would shun be a good substitute for escape?

The meanings of shun and escape largely overlap; however, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

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 escape
Verb
To escape the grind of the city and re-evaluate his life, Isaiah visits his sister, Jess, and teenage niece, Aurora, in upstate New York for the holidays. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025 If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
At great risk, Hamida disguises herself as a khes (a thick cotton cloth) seller and enters the house to plan with Lajo an escape route. —JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025 The girls are put to the fire anyway, and when the sudden appearance of a crusading Nilfgaardian army seems to offer a chance of escape, Beata is simply killed by a random soldier’s sword. —Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for escape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escape
  1. flee
  2. evade
  3. flight
  4. evasion
  5. fly
  6. avoid
  7. break
  8. avoidance
Verb
  • Three were sprawling refugee camps near el-Fasher that have emptied as RSF troops advanced, with most people fleeing into el-Fasher or nearby towns.
    — NPR, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The film, written by Barbosa alongside Werner Salles, is set in 1695 and sees a family of slaves organize a rebellion to flee in search of the utopian Quilombo dos Palmares following a call from the spiritual helm.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Definition of flee
Verb
  • The company said Perplexity wasn't operating transparently and is evading the company to gain unauthorized access to its store.
    — Ashley Capoot,Annie Palmer, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
  • After successfully evading arrest, Lennon remained on the run for 13 years.
    — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of evade
Noun
  • So what happens if your flight is affected?
    — Rob Wile, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The site can be used to simulate flight environments that can be used for hypersonic weapon development, according to a university notice.
    — Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of flight
Noun
  • But Fan’s world came crashing down in the late 2010s amidst tax evasion allegations that culminated in fines and retroactive tax bills reportedly in the region of $100 million.
    — Gavin J Blair, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Cunningham, who died in August 2025, had previously served more than eight years in federal prison for bribery and tax evasion.
    — David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of evasion
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
Definition of fly
Verb
  • Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Flyers should try to mitigate any headaches from delays and cancellations by avoiding booking flights with layovers, the non-profit US Public Interest Research Group says, and opt to make reservations directly with the airline rather than a third-party website.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of avoid
Noun
  • From there, Miami needs a lot of breaks to go its way.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
  • These particles cause defects, like bridges, breaks, or rough edges, that ruin chips.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Definition of break
Noun
  • Even if existing obstacle avoidance systems work effectively, research is being conducted to increase flight speeds above two meters per second, allowing real-world operations to respond more quickly, according to TRR.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
  • How to Model Healthy Disagreement While avoidance of conflict may seem to make the family dynamic feel less tense in the short term, this strategy doesn’t model how to have healthy disagreements.
    — Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 30 Oct. 2025
Definition of avoidance

Phrases Containing escape

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escapades
escape
escaped
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Cite this Entry

“Escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escape. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of escape for Spanish Speakers

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