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
When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom, and love.
—
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 30 June 2025
Cuomo, pushing back on Mamdani’s proposals, claimed that the tax hikes would prompt many rich people and businesses to flee, thereby undermining the city’s tax base.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Rising gang violence then led thousands of ordinary Salvadorans to flee to the United States.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 30 June 2025
The near fatal crash occurred as the NYPD clamped down on cops chasing vehicles fleeing car stops.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 30 June 2025
Cuomo, pushing back on Mamdani’s proposals, claimed that the tax hikes would prompt many rich people and businesses to flee, thereby undermining the city’s tax base.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Rising gang violence then led thousands of ordinary Salvadorans to flee to the United States.
—Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 30 June 2025
The near fatal crash occurred as the NYPD clamped down on cops chasing vehicles fleeing car stops.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flee
Verb
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While the boldest headlines tell how people are literally snatched off the streets, are being disappeared to foreign prisons, news that often receives less attention reveals that our civil liberties are also being snatched up, one by one.—
Michael Pfleger,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
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The man formerly known as Robert Prevost has somewhat disappeared ...—
Michael Brendan Dougherty,
National Review,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Police on Friday captured one of the New Orleans parish inmates who escaped six weeks ago in a jailbreak Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the worst in recent state history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
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In such places, summer becomes a never-ending fantasy, a pleasure dome that characters cannot escape.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Groups of demonstrators retreated to nearby streets, only to cut back and regroup near the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park.—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
24 June 2025
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Many analysts believe Iran will retreat, reassemble its nuclear scientists and rebuild its program.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Record heatwaves, vanishing ice and billion-dollar disasters are reshaping how risk is modeled and priced.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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The little girl doesn’t understand why her mother vanished and had hoped her mother would be at her graduation, said Camerino Gomez, Pineda’s fiance.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
Verb
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There are still questions about the cornerback position and the pass rush, but second-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will have his unit flying around the field making plays.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Nearly two weeks ago, 62 carbon-spewing private jets reportedly flew world leaders into Kananaskis, Canada, for the G7 summit, raising serious questions about the travel choices of those who are supposed to be tackling climate change and other global crises.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Once the uncertainty begins to fade, capital returns more quickly than most anticipate.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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The red measurement markings also have a tendency to fade over time, especially with frequent dishwasher use.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 June 2025
Verb
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And this double-U structure is bolted to a square base that sits on a rotating support for 360-degree horizontal swivel.—
Paul Ridden
June 25,
New Atlas,
25 June 2025
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While legacy automakers outsource software and tech firms try to bolt autonomy onto third-party hardware, Tesla owns the entire autonomy stack.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Verb
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The official compared Stefanik to current Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin, who ran unsuccessfully against Hochul in 2022, rising to a Cabinet position despite his relatively narrow loss.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
22 June 2025
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Our 6,000 members — and tens of thousands of New Yorkers — are practically running to the polls.—
Audrey Sasson,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flee. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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