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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flee
Geopolitically weakened, Iran can’t expect its ally Russia to come to its aid, beyond shipping helicopters and harboring fleeing leaders, Carnegie Politika wrote.
—
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Many stick to the Midwest, according to an end-of-year report by U-Haul, which examined the states its customers fled or flocked to most in 2025.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 13 Jan. 2026
One of them, an Afghan woman who worked with American military and fled to escape the Taliban, began a new life in Connecticut this spring.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
The second car — the one furthest from the crashing waves — decided to flee first.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flee
Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Many stick to the Midwest, according to an end-of-year report by U-Haul, which examined the states its customers fled or flocked to most in 2025.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 13 Jan. 2026
One of them, an Afghan woman who worked with American military and fled to escape the Taliban, began a new life in Connecticut this spring.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
The second car — the one furthest from the crashing waves — decided to flee first.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flee
Verb
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And the risks from hostile actors in the Middle East and China haven’t disappeared either.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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That will not happen if the trooper disappears into the cavernous state building that devoured more than $200 million in public funds for a yearslong renovation project.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Austin Abrams stars as a scuba diver who, while searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) body, gets swallowed and must find a way to escape.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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Set in 1977, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, the thriller details Armando and his son in their efforts to escape the country in the midst of political turmoil.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump’s remarks Wednesday, suddenly retreating from his threat of military force, could mitigate some of the damage inflicted on Washington’s most cherished relationships.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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Start the day with a swim in one of the hotel’s three infinity pools before retreating to the bar for a lunchtime cocktail, or the spa for pampering.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Miami-Dade County commissioners cleared the way Thursday for a heavy-equipment dealer to build a sprawling new headquarters outside the county’s Urban Development Boundary, which was put in place decades ago to protect vanishing wetlands and farms.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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After 2022’s Grammy-winning Harry’s House and its attendant 22-month Love On Tour, Harry Styles all but vanished from public view, with only the occasional pap shot—strolling Rome’s cobblestones or cutting across Hampstead in an ever-expanding collection of sneakerinas—serving as proof of life.—
Daniel Rodgers,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is like ignoring weather conditions when flying an airplane.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Narcotraffickers have recruited a number of couriers to fly to Miami and other cities to set up phony businesses with corporate bank accounts, authorities say.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The notion of grief gradually fades into the backdrop, finally re-emerging in a manner that is, thanks to the film’s lumpy tonal mixture, more confusing than emotionally cleansing.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
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But even a full-bodied brass section and some formidable multi-part harmonies can’t stop the song from fading into a 18-track lineup of anemic lounge-funk flips with near-uniform tempos.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The five-star freshman had committed to USC with every intention of bolting for the NBA after one season, only for the setbacks of the past year to put his likely lottery status in doubt.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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Vladislav Gavrikov, who bolted in free agency over the summer, returned to his old stomping grounds for the first time and picked up an assist for his new team and an unwelcome one for his former cohorts as well.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Indu and Mahipal run a Hindu monastery, or ashram, in India called Hanslok that was founded by Mahipal’s father.—
Bernadette Toh,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Most of the other candidates lacked play-calling experience in the NFL, outside of Harris, Martindale, Lions assistant Jim O’Neil and Packers run game coordinator Demarcus Covington.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flee. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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