1
as in flees
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evades
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
as in breaks
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement
a daring prison escape
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 escapes
Zach Wichter, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Known for its Gilded Age mansions, deep maritime roots, and rugged Atlantic shoreline, Newport has long been one of New England’s signature coastal escapes.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Brightline escapes Step on a Brightline train and the I-95 headache becomes someone else’s problem from a comfy seat, with a glass of wine and an uninterrupted hour.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
The yoga pavilion and Pilates studio are great additions, but what sets this hotel apart from other weekend escapes is the holistic atmosphere.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026
From thrilling sports and world-class museums to vibrant arts districts and outdoor escapes, your new city offers something for every interest and every mood.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 2 Jan. 2026
What was once a place for summer escapes is quickly turning into a year-round destination for wealthy international buyers, many of whom are trading in London, Stockholm, or Frankfurt for the island’s slower pace of life.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
Douglass’s former North Star co-editor, Martin Delany, who had been admitted to Harvard Medical School but was forced out after white students complained, responded to Dred Scott — and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 — by writing a novel whose hero escapes bondage and plots an overthrow of slavery.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Fringilla escapes her captors, weaker but no less determined, and rescues Istredd from his cell.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Jade Moyano, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
In e-mails from July, 2022, one veterinarian identified fifteen recent escapes, adding that a deeper search of records would likely yield more.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Marlowe’s life story is also filled with near escapes, nefarious friends, bizarre escapades.
—Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
While Sandals hotels are known for romantic escapes for couples, this time was about celebrating the bond between friends.
—Essence, 18 Oct. 2025
For travelers looking for an alternative to Lisbon’s bustle, Porto has become one of Portugal’s most atmospheric escapes.
—AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 2025
In 2019, there were five high-profile security issues at the Golden complex, including a staff member arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, multiple escapes by violent young people and a riot between rival gangs, which injured three staff members.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Now, Mexico’s trendsetting ‘micro’ hotels range from cliffside villas and beachfront bungalows to desert escapes designed around some of the country’s best food and drink.
—Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
But will the bill come due on these escapes, not just against the Chargers but with their remarkable knack of winning one-score games?
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Instead, book a few three- to four-day escapes that align with school and office closures.
—Zach Wichter, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Known for its Gilded Age mansions, deep maritime roots, and rugged Atlantic shoreline, Newport has long been one of New England’s signature coastal escapes.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Brightline escapes Step on a Brightline train and the I-95 headache becomes someone else’s problem from a comfy seat, with a glass of wine and an uninterrupted hour.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
The yoga pavilion and Pilates studio are great additions, but what sets this hotel apart from other weekend escapes is the holistic atmosphere.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026
From thrilling sports and world-class museums to vibrant arts districts and outdoor escapes, your new city offers something for every interest and every mood.
—Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 2 Jan. 2026
What was once a place for summer escapes is quickly turning into a year-round destination for wealthy international buyers, many of whom are trading in London, Stockholm, or Frankfurt for the island’s slower pace of life.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
Douglass’s former North Star co-editor, Martin Delany, who had been admitted to Harvard Medical School but was forced out after white students complained, responded to Dred Scott — and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 — by writing a novel whose hero escapes bondage and plots an overthrow of slavery.
—Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Fringilla escapes her captors, weaker but no less determined, and rescues Istredd from his cell.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Fares to Rio de Janeiro can run higher, so think of GRU as your gateway, with low-cost carriers like Azul and GOL getting you to coastal escapes in no time.
—Jade Moyano, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
In e-mails from July, 2022, one veterinarian identified fifteen recent escapes, adding that a deeper search of records would likely yield more.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Marlowe’s life story is also filled with near escapes, nefarious friends, bizarre escapades.
—Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
While Sandals hotels are known for romantic escapes for couples, this time was about celebrating the bond between friends.
—Essence, 18 Oct. 2025
For travelers looking for an alternative to Lisbon’s bustle, Porto has become one of Portugal’s most atmospheric escapes.
—AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 2025
In 2019, there were five high-profile security issues at the Golden complex, including a staff member arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, multiple escapes by violent young people and a riot between rival gangs, which injured three staff members.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
Now, Mexico’s trendsetting ‘micro’ hotels range from cliffside villas and beachfront bungalows to desert escapes designed around some of the country’s best food and drink.
—Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
But will the bill come due on these escapes, not just against the Chargers but with their remarkable knack of winning one-score games?
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escapes
Verb
-
Continue reading … OCEAN ESCAPE – Sanctioned tanker flees US forces, now under Russian naval escort off Irish coast.—
,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Shane Stant clubs Kerrigan on the knee and flees the scene.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Experts who spoke to Flow Space are hopeful that these new approvals will provide the necessary tools to treat a disease that evades treatment by constantly mutating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Dec. 2025
-
In the film, Sea-Based X-Band Radar detects a missile flying across the Pacific Ocean toward Chicago that later evades interception.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Imagine me at lunch or dinner breaks on that movie, sitting between the two of them—Peyton and Bradley—knowing little to nothing about football.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Homecooked meals with Lido’s parents and dips into the nearby fjord filled the gaps during recording breaks.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So instead, to keep costs down and power up, the Starcloud satellite flies what is known as a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit, circling the planet at a near vertical 83° angle that carries it over the poles and keeps it almost constantly exposed to the sun.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Across the canyon, flames leapt up the Paseo Miramar trail, still two miles away as the crow flies, but already too close to ignore.—
Jonathan Taplin,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Early prototypes shown at CES were assembled rapidly for demonstration, but Lumus says the underlying architecture avoids exotic materials.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Jérôme Sans, the exhibition’s curator, positioned the Cookie Factory as a site that deliberately avoids cultural isolation.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Future updates may introduce visible hit points and on-screen scoring, turning group flights into structured air-battle experiences.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Hundreds of flights were delayed at Denver International Airport on Thursday as a winter storm brought snow and icy temperatures to the Front Range and federal officials ordered a ground delay because of staffing issues.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
High school football in La Jolla this week was a tale of two routs — one on the positive side and the other not so much.—
La Jolla Light,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Let the home routs and the Albertsons Stadium invincibility continue.—
Jim Keyser,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to plumbing services, the company also offers free rescues for pets and wildlife trapped in pipes.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
His team trains for rescues along Lake Michigan.—
Marissa Perlman,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escapes. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share