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
Murat Ates, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Aaron escapes his torturers, first by rooting himself in the town’s only movie theater open to Black people, and then by lying about his age and enlisting in the Navy at 16.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
To pretend that the Fed somehow escapes this absolute is not only false, but also a non sequitur.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
President Barack Obama in 2017 commuted López’s prison sentence for his role in the FALN, an organization that in the 1970s and early 1980s plotted bombings, prison escapes and armed robberies in an effort to secure independence for Puerto Rico.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
No warning, no opt-out, no qualifications The undocumented changes also included code to conceal the instruction and its results by adding ANSI escapes that erased the PI when human reviewers use the TTY command to monitor activity on interactive terminals.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2026
As Mundo escapes into his artistic work as an illustrator and Bruno falls in love, Diana pragmatically tries to prepare for a future that may not include her husband.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 25 May 2026
Worn with a long dress at summer weddings, on holiday escapes or merely on the morning commute, the flip-flop truly comes into its own.
—Natalie Hammond, Vogue, 25 May 2026
Still, two straight over the Mets only means Miami escapes the NL East cellar for now.
—Greg Cote
may 24, Miami Herald, 24 May 2026
Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
For someone who has spent much of the last decade circling the globe for performances, press tours, and personal escapes, Cabello’s most vivid recent travel memories aren’t necessarily tied to buzzy capitals or luxury resorts.
—Jesse Scott, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Even Rizo, who had lots of pyrotechnics and near escapes last season, is playing a much wiser game this time.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Assouline is one of my cultural escapes, Apple my tech core and Nespresso my morning ritual.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 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
Once synonymous with beach escapes and bottomless buffets, the all-inclusive resort is showing up in unexpected places—and Club Med is driving the change.
—Ashlea Halpern, Time, 30 Apr. 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
Verb
Hellebuyck being Hellebuyck and a middle six that escapes its 2025-26 black hole and starts winning its minutes again.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Aaron escapes his torturers, first by rooting himself in the town’s only movie theater open to Black people, and then by lying about his age and enlisting in the Navy at 16.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
To pretend that the Fed somehow escapes this absolute is not only false, but also a non sequitur.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
President Barack Obama in 2017 commuted López’s prison sentence for his role in the FALN, an organization that in the 1970s and early 1980s plotted bombings, prison escapes and armed robberies in an effort to secure independence for Puerto Rico.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
No warning, no opt-out, no qualifications The undocumented changes also included code to conceal the instruction and its results by adding ANSI escapes that erased the PI when human reviewers use the TTY command to monitor activity on interactive terminals.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2026
As Mundo escapes into his artistic work as an illustrator and Bruno falls in love, Diana pragmatically tries to prepare for a future that may not include her husband.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 25 May 2026
Worn with a long dress at summer weddings, on holiday escapes or merely on the morning commute, the flip-flop truly comes into its own.
—Natalie Hammond, Vogue, 25 May 2026
Still, two straight over the Mets only means Miami escapes the NL East cellar for now.
—Greg Cote
may 24, Miami Herald, 24 May 2026
Noun
The islands are famous for honeymoons and romantic escapes, but Malé is just as appealing for kids.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
For someone who has spent much of the last decade circling the globe for performances, press tours, and personal escapes, Cabello’s most vivid recent travel memories aren’t necessarily tied to buzzy capitals or luxury resorts.
—Jesse Scott, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026
Even Rizo, who had lots of pyrotechnics and near escapes last season, is playing a much wiser game this time.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 May 2026
Assouline is one of my cultural escapes, Apple my tech core and Nespresso my morning ritual.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 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
Once synonymous with beach escapes and bottomless buffets, the all-inclusive resort is showing up in unexpected places—and Club Med is driving the change.
—Ashlea Halpern, Time, 30 Apr. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escapes
Verb
-
Rue then flees the home as Wayne chases her with a shotgun.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
Charlie flees the scene and Pip makes every effort to save Stanley, putting pressure on his wounds and trying to keep him conscious, dragging his body away from the flames after Charlie sets the place on fire.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In March, the French navy seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean that Macron said belonged to Russia’s shadow fleet, which comprises several hundred tankers through which Russia evades sanctions.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
-
At one point, Griffin appears to lunge at Manetta, who evades him by ducking behind a column on the platform.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Options for breaks, movement, flexibility, and sensory regulation can make participation more possible.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Sales tax breaks for the Lambda project The Lambda project is expected to receive sales tax breaks through the state.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
An Israeli flag flies over the medieval Beaufort Castle, known locally as Qalaat al-Shaqif or Shaqif Arnoun.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
-
The Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance squadron flies 10 Super Hercules aircraft out of Biloxi, Mississippi.—
Scott Withers,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
But the Morneaults take a route that intentionally avoids passing by the storefront on the western entrance to Pratt Street.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
-
As a reminder, any candidate with more than 50% avoids a runoff.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The airspace around St Petersburg international airport was restricted on Wednesday morning, leading to delays of around two dozen flights, the airport said in a statement.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
The journey might sound heavy on logistics—with flights, ferries and shuttles—but it couldn’t be handled more seamlessly by Bawah staff.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Oklahoma City went 8-0 against LeBron James and the Lakers this season — and the defending champs are also 8-0 in these playoffs after back-to-back routs of Phoenix and Los Angeles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Maher also noted that March had a record number of water rescues across the city.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
Investigators are examining whether the killings were tied to payments made by some animal services agencies to rescues — payments that can range from $400 to $1,450 for each dog.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escapes. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
