Synonyms of flee

flee

verb

ˈflē 

1

as in to disappear

to cease to be visible

the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disappear
• vanish
• fade
• fly
• melt
• evaporate
• dissolve
• dissipate
• sink
• dematerialize
• drop out of sight
• disperse
• evanesce
• die (away or down or out)
• dry up
• blur
• blank (out)
• dim
• clear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appear
• arrive
• emerge
• materialize
• come out
• issue
• show up
• break out
• loom

2

as in to escape

to get free from a dangerous or confining situation

a murderer who fled on foot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• escape
• fly
• leave
• abscond
• get out
• move
• break free
• run away
• run off
• avoid
• evade
• clear out
• go
• break out (of)
• lose
• exit
• lam
• shun
• elude
• depart
• rescue
• elope
• pull out
• quit
• walk out
• liberate
• extricate
• decamp
• shove (off)
• take off
• sally (forth)
• emancipate
• disentangle
• redeem
• release
• loose
• free
• loosen
• spring
• unbind
• enfranchise
• bring off
• manumit
• unchain
• uncage
• unfetter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remain
• stay
• dwell
• linger
• abide
• return
• hang around
• come back
• stick around
• tarry

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

• retreat
• fly
• escape
• bolt
• run
• break
• skedaddle
• run off
• run away
• beat a retreat
• hightail (it)
• beat it
• turn tail
• bug out
• make tracks
• abscond
• get (away)
• decamp
• elope
• get out
• skip (out)
• scram
• lam
• make off
• clear out
• light out
• scarper
• scat
• skirr
• mizzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confront
• dare
• face
• defy
• beard
• remain
• stay
• brave
• dwell
• linger
• abide
• hang around
• stick around
• tarry

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flee

One person was arrested while trying to flee from police while armed, city officials said. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

Five years later, her parents fled the Communist state with her and her older brother. — Langdon Hammer, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Two gunmen got out of the vehicle and opened fire before fleeing westbound on Ogden. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

The town hosts thousands of people, many of whom fled after the RSF seized the city of Al Fasher last year. — Hamza Fahmy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026