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
In 1984, following Operation Blue Star, the assassination of India's prime minister by her Sikh bodyguard triggered horrific mob violence that killed thousands of Sikhs across the country, pushing many more to flee.
—
Akash Pamarthy, NPR, 6 June 2026
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle before deputies arrived, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
Cops are searching for two men last seen fleeing the bus heading south on Broadway.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
The former heir of Eternia, Adam was forced to flee his home planet at a young age and raised on Earth.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flee
Akash Pamarthy, NPR, 6 June 2026
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle before deputies arrived, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
Cops are searching for two men last seen fleeing the bus heading south on Broadway.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
The former heir of Eternia, Adam was forced to flee his home planet at a young age and raised on Earth.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flee
Verb
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As America marks the 82nd anniversary of D-Day on Saturday, a group of women whose wartime labor helped sustain the Allied war effort gathered in New Orleans to remember a generation that is rapidly disappearing.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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At the Union the meat is still cut in-house and aged on a band saw, a practice Boyd says has all but disappeared elsewhere.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Verb
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If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 June 2026
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The Padres still needed another bounce to go their way in the eighth when Juan Soto lined into an inning-ending double play with two runners on to allow Jason Adam to escape the eighth unscathed.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Seeking a brief escape from the public grief that had engulfed her family, 34-year-old Jackie retreated to the White House family quarters and found the British royal entertaining her young son.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
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Now, like in the Octagon, everyone has retreated to their corners.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The immediacy of personal experience will vanish.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
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Reeves noted Connecticut will become just the second state to commit state dollars this year to replace vanishing federal SNAP support.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
Verb
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The weather service also urged people to avoid windows, and if outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle to seek the closest substantial shelter and to protect themselves from flying debris.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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The Cougars came out of the gate flying, with Ani Woodard registering a hat trick and Emma Whoriskey and Taylor Watts adding goals in the opening frame.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Members of the organizations explained that the numerous legal and regulatory actions are not fading away once SpaceX goes public, but are likely to escalate and become bigger risks to investors, pension fund holders and other members of the financial community.—
Ashley Capoot,CJ Haddad,Samantha Subin,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
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Hackman plays a chess-loving private investigator tasked with finding the 16-year-old daughter (Melanie Griffith, in her film debut) of a fading actress.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
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On top of that, the bodywork is a central cover bolted down with rivet-type fasteners.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 05,
New Atlas,
5 June 2026
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At the same time, the number of new hires and layoffs both tumbled after bolting higher in March; and voluntary quits fell to their lowest level in nearly six years, an indication of workers’ slipping confidence in the labor market.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Bains, backed by Democratic Party leaders and major labor organizations, ran as a more moderate Democrat with a healthcare background who occasionally broke with her party on Assembly votes.—
Mathew Miranda
June 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
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Bumila has drawn praise all year for his dominance, but Bishop Feehan again proved deep with a three-run day between Jack Gasse, Trace Reed and Carrera.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flee. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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