1
as in disappears
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 escapes
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
a murderer who fled on foot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in retreats
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 flees
The stinger on the scene, where Katie flees and Greg mistakenly gets caught peeping on two girls smooching, is good for some giggles.
—
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Seemingly a united front, Michaela agrees to stay in London upon Francesca’s request, but secretly flees in the finale.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, Taylor is part of the first 33 minutes or so of the movie, until Perfidia flees to Mexico and away from Lockjaw, who Taylor insists never had the power in that dynamic.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
But when the masks are supposed to come off at the stroke of midnight, the lady flees, leaving only a glove behind and setting the stage for the Cinderella fairytale Thompson had earlier teased.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Becca flees her home to escape her evil stepmother but receives support and friendship from several individuals before Evie mysteriously disappears in 1934.
—The Know, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
The president flees these tradeoffs as a matter of course and flip-flops unpredictably when pressures rise.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Benedict’s offer is met with deafening silence, before Sophie flees his embrace in distress.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
What else is going on A Maserati driver kills a man and a dog crossing a Sherman Oaks street, flees the scene and then abandons the car.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Seemingly a united front, Michaela agrees to stay in London upon Francesca’s request, but secretly flees in the finale.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, Taylor is part of the first 33 minutes or so of the movie, until Perfidia flees to Mexico and away from Lockjaw, who Taylor insists never had the power in that dynamic.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
But when the masks are supposed to come off at the stroke of midnight, the lady flees, leaving only a glove behind and setting the stage for the Cinderella fairytale Thompson had earlier teased.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Becca flees her home to escape her evil stepmother but receives support and friendship from several individuals before Evie mysteriously disappears in 1934.
—The Know, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
The president flees these tradeoffs as a matter of course and flip-flops unpredictably when pressures rise.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Benedict’s offer is met with deafening silence, before Sophie flees his embrace in distress.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026
What else is going on A Maserati driver kills a man and a dog crossing a Sherman Oaks street, flees the scene and then abandons the car.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flees
Verb
-
If trust in the integrity of the game disappears, then interest is likely to follow.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The ship simply disappears from the map.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These luxury Appalachian escapes pair low-impact lighting, stargazing, and mountain activities like horseback riding and hiking.—
Megan Eaves,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
-
From luxury and adults-only escapes to ships packed with onboard adventures and kids’ clubs, there’s truly a cruise—and a cruise line—for everyone.—
Southern Living Editors,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Around the world, spas are often physically inaccessible, retreats off-limits by design, and practitioners limited in their ability and training to see disabled bodies as deserving of the restoration everyone so desperately needs.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But the novel ultimately retreats from these complicating questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The waste that vanishes from coastlines and shipping lanes doesn’t vanish at all.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
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In biology, a Lazarus species is one that vanishes from the fossil record or from scientific observation for a prolonged period, only to turn up alive later.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The White House’s push for the Railway Safety Act flies in the face of its own advice.—
John Shelton,
Washington Post,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Young normally flies using CLEAR, a private security program that costs about $200 a person, but that option wasn’t available on Sunday.—
Dan Gallo,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Support for DiCaprio fades, and Day-Lewis wins his third Oscar.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Energy drinks can give you a quick burst of energy, but that boost often fades fast.—
Laura Dorwart,
Verywell Health,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Here’s a curtain-raiser on SXSW Music 2026, which runs from March 12-16 — with all of the different sub-festivals running concurrently, for the first time in the Austin gathering’s four-decade history.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
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The Lake Shore Limited is a 19-hour rail journey between New York City and Chicago that runs alongside Lake Michigan, the Mohawk River, and the Erie Canal.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With that in mind, here are a few free agent options who could fit the Yankees if Bellinger bolts.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
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The canine then bolts across the field and is immediately chased by one horse, with about five more joining in moments later.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flees. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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