as in to flee
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
when a fight broke out, we hightailed it out of the bar
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hightail (it)
Verb
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That night, both the President and his wife periodically fled upstairs to check on their most beloved son, the eleven-year-old Willie, sick with a fever that would kill him two weeks later.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026 -
Prosecutors said that bystanders dialed 911 during the attack, but McHenry fled the scene, the outlet reported.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Just as people must eventually retreat from outdoor living spaces—whether a porch, lawn, or patio—and head indoors, so too must our things.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
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In an attempt to spark inspiration for a new Little Death origin story, Kris pays a visit to the present-day Billy, played by a regal, knowing Gillian Anderson, who retreated from public life after that first installment and whom Kris hopes to persuade to appear in her reboot.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The little girl was holding her mom’s hand when the bullets started flying outside the Southern Blvd.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
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For now, though, SLS is the only rocket powerful enough and certified to fly Orion to the moon.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The Rebels were enjoying the greatest season of the modern era and preparing for the College Football Playoff when Kiffin bolted for LSU in spectacularly messy fashion.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
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You guys will normally read like 300-500 words before bolting.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Here’s one of several places where Footer’s biography runs into problems.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
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Enter this breathable maxi dress, which is comfortable and functional enough to run errands in, while still being stylish enough for hosting brunch or packing for a beach vacation.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Joao Gomes, one of the few current players to escape the wrath of disgruntled supporters, lingered on the pitch after his team-mates had left following a brief, post-match lap of appreciation.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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There might be a fight to escape, but even those few who crawl over rocks and grit and sand to reach terra firma find their surroundings changed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The man eventually ran away down Williams' quiet neighborhood and took off his outfit just minutes before the Livonia Police showed up.—
Heath Kalb,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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The driver and sole occupant of the Chevrolet ran away from the crash and has not been identified our found, Gonzalez said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Tim David’s 12-ball 28 included two sixes as Bengaluru eased past 200 with 65 runs off the last five overs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
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Jansen then reportedly ran off to avoid being captured.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hightail (it).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hightail%20%28it%29. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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