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retreat

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of retreat

1 an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable

  • we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered
Synonyms of retreat

pullback, pullout, recession, retirement, withdrawal
Words Related to retreat

rout

flinch, recoil, revulsion, shrinking

disengagement, disentanglement
Antonyms of retreat

advance, advancement

2 something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger

  • her bedroom served as a retreat from the frequent arguing between her parents
  • the abandoned cabin was a welcome retreat from the storm
Synonyms of retreat

asylum, bolt-hole [chiefly British], harbor, harborage, haven, refuge, sanctuary, sanctum, shelter
Words Related to retreat

oasis

anchorage, mooring, port

cover, screen

abode, diggings, domicile, dwelling, habitation, house, housing, lodging, lodgment (or lodgement), pad, place, quarters, residence, rest, roof

cloister, closet, covert, den, hermitage, hideaway, hideout, lair

castle, fastness, fort, fortress, palisade, redoubt, stronghold

lean-to, lee, shed, windbreak

retreat

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of retreat

1 to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

  • we retreated to the safety of the cellar at the first sign of the tornado
Synonyms of retreat

back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, withdraw
Words Related to retreat

flee, fly

flinch, recoil, shrink

chicken (out)

bow out

back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down

detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away

abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate
Phrases Synonymous with retreat

give ground, give way, lose ground
Near Antonyms of retreat

beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave
Antonyms of retreat

advance

2 to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

  • the untried soldiers retreated in humiliating disarray almost as soon as the enemyʼs onslaught began
Synonyms of retreat

bolt, break, bug out, flee, fly, hightail (it), run, run away, run off, skedaddle
Words Related to retreat

abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle [chiefly British], scarper [British], scat, scram, skip (out), skirr
Phrases Synonymous with retreat

beat a retreat, beat it, make tracks, turn tail
Near Antonyms of retreat

beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face

abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

Synonym Discussion of retreat

recede, retreat, retract, back mean to move backward. recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space.
    • the flood waters gradually receded
retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached.
    • retreating soldiers
retract implies drawing back from an extended position.
    • a cat retracting its claws
back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion.
    • backed off on the throttle

Learn More about retreat

  1. See words that rhyme with retreat Dictionary: Definition of retreat Spanish Central: Translation of retreat Nglish: Translation of retreat for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of retreat for Arabic speakers

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