1
as in flees
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of escapes
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 1 May 2026
The Chase, which also starred Marlon Brando, saw Redford play Bubber, who escapes from prison, and Fonda play his wife.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
This network was highly efficient in passing on Underground Railroad communications and coordinating escapes within the coastal and bay regions to the south.
—Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
Minnesota escapes the first round for the first time in over a decade.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Shyanne and Kenny have the first two things going for them — their wedding is certainly small and intimate — but the third escapes them.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Farm stays are far from new, but travelers are showing a resounding new interest in rural, back-to-the-land escapes.
—Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
The team, meanwhile, escapes by beaming the Stargate aboard to gate out before returning via the second gate.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Known for archaeological marvels and seaside escapes, millions of tourists visit Albania for its rich history and culture.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Trails in nearby Montreat provide quick escapes into the mountains, while the legacy of the now-defunct Black Mountain College continues to shape the town’s deeply rooted arts culture today.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
Still, 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes from Alcatraz.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
In 1855, for instance, there was a sharp spike in escapes to Philadelphia from Norfolk, Virginia, which lies at the very southern end of the Chesapeake Bay.
—Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
Over 29 years, according to the Bureau of Prisons, 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Visitors to the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise can explore a former prison with a history of escapes, crime and reported ghostly encounters.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
There is a genre-bending western; two stories blend speculative details with realism to portray women planning their escapes; three stories spec-ify the only-daughter experience; and one story flirts with where to begin.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Here are six ingenious escapes throughout history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
The moving drama revolves on a young boy, the film’s titular character, who escapes the bombing of his southern Iranian village in which his family is killed.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 1 May 2026
The Chase, which also starred Marlon Brando, saw Redford play Bubber, who escapes from prison, and Fonda play his wife.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
This network was highly efficient in passing on Underground Railroad communications and coordinating escapes within the coastal and bay regions to the south.
—Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
Minnesota escapes the first round for the first time in over a decade.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Shyanne and Kenny have the first two things going for them — their wedding is certainly small and intimate — but the third escapes them.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Farm stays are far from new, but travelers are showing a resounding new interest in rural, back-to-the-land escapes.
—Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
The team, meanwhile, escapes by beaming the Stargate aboard to gate out before returning via the second gate.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Known for archaeological marvels and seaside escapes, millions of tourists visit Albania for its rich history and culture.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
Assouline is one of my cultural escapes, Apple my tech core and Nespresso my morning ritual.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Trails in nearby Montreat provide quick escapes into the mountains, while the legacy of the now-defunct Black Mountain College continues to shape the town’s deeply rooted arts culture today.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026
Still, 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes from Alcatraz.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
In 1855, for instance, there was a sharp spike in escapes to Philadelphia from Norfolk, Virginia, which lies at the very southern end of the Chesapeake Bay.
—Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
Over 29 years, according to the Bureau of Prisons, 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Visitors to the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise can explore a former prison with a history of escapes, crime and reported ghostly encounters.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
There is a genre-bending western; two stories blend speculative details with realism to portray women planning their escapes; three stories spec-ify the only-daughter experience; and one story flirts with where to begin.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Here are six ingenious escapes throughout history.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escapes
Verb
-
So, Nawi flees on her wedding night.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
-
Searchlight is in development on Lottery, a Permut Presentations drama about a young man with Down syndrome who, after winning the lottery, flees his estranged mother and hits the road with a charming new friend who has ulterior motives of her own.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mr Cobra evades most classification from there, blending free jazz, musique concrète, ’00s pop, house, industrial techno, and air horns, interlaced with dialogue snipped from Korean folk operas and experimental films.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But even if Booker’s appearance evades the FCC’s scrutiny, the commission is closely watching TV talk programs, with The View in particular a subject of interest.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His exit comes despite MNUFC having two more games before the entire MLS breaks for the World Cup.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
-
Your bank learns those patterns, and travel breaks all of them at once.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Leone, a furniture executive, flies exclusively on semi-private planes operated by JSX.—
Pat Maio,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
-
Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Drivers may also experience smoother brake operation because the system avoids the harsh pedal pulsing commonly associated with older anti-lock braking systems.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
Impressively, 94% of the property’s waste avoids landfill— miraculous for a hotel of this size—with it either being recycled, donated, or made use of in the hotel grounds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Today guests come not from Rome as the Cité’s founders did, but from across France, northern Spain (the border is just two hours away), England (there are direct Ryanair flights to Carcassonne’s small airport), as well as the US.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The soldiers trained on both the Bumblebee V1, a small, first-person-view drone that has seen thousands of combat flights in Ukraine, and the newer Bumblebee V2, which has automatic target recognition specifically meant to counter other drones and which has not been deployed yet.—
Eleanor Watson,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 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
-
The rising cost of food and veterinary services, which can put even individual pet owners in difficult situations, creates an even bigger burden on sanctuaries and rescues caring for so many animals.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
Holly Mazur is the founder and president of Lew Dog Gives, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting animal rescues, sanctuaries and shelters.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escapes. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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