1
as in withdrawal
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refuge
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 & Similar Words
1
as in to withdraw
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to flee
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the untried soldiers retreated in humiliating disarray almost as soon as the enemy's onslaught began
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retreat
Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
Margot Robbie went there for a yoga and surfing retreat (and encountered a human foot on the beach, but that’s another story).
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 19 May 2025
Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Recently, the actor has retreated from public view, and his last remaining fans have taken to expressing concern for his well-being.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for retreat
Noun
Conyers is also the respite for The Monastery of the Holy Spirit, a serene retreat with opportunities for reflection and exploration.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
Margot Robbie went there for a yoga and surfing retreat (and encountered a human foot on the beach, but that’s another story).
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 19 May 2025
Verb
Burrow and the Bengals won’t quietly take the short end of the scheduling stick, specifically against their biggest rival, and retreat to their corner.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Recently, the actor has retreated from public view, and his last remaining fans have taken to expressing concern for his well-being.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for retreat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreat
Noun
-
Destructive conflict styles like withdrawal were found to be particularly damaging, while positive problem-solving and closeness acted as important mediators between mindfulness and relationship health.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
But Iger, along with other CEOs including Elon Musk, resigned from the advisory board after Trump announced the withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
If reaching a safe shelter is not possible, either crouch down in your car and cover your head, or leave your vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2025
-
Steer clear of windows and avoid seeking refuge in large open areas such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
Martin withdrew from consideration for the post that requires Senate confirmation and Trump named him to a Justice Department post instead.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
-
Fisher Scientific withdrew its full-year profit forecast while the medical equipment maker expects to take a $400 million hit in sales to China, as Trump’s tariffs would likely raise the cost of parts the company sources in China.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
The cruel politics of South Carolina lawmakers are harming families and destroying a health care system as more and more providers flee the state.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
-
In the past, a similar violation might have led to a fine. Petrova, a top-tier researcher, fled Russia after protesting Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine and had been working in a Harvard Medical School lab for two years.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
Adjustments were also made to the way retirement payments for federal employees are calculated and dilute tax credits for clean electricity investments.—
Molly Bohannon,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
And that trend invites a question: When will America's retirement age stop rising? Which retailers are raising prices over tariffs?—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Kyle and Joe could hear the screams in the shelter, so Joe went to investigate.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
22 May 2025
-
If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
When is the best time to retire to get Social Security? When to retire and apply for Social Security is a personal decision based on many factors.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
-
Russo, a 24-year FDNY veteran, had been expecting to retire in a few months when she was slain.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
Books about fictional weddings fly off the shelves of bookstores, too.—
Lian Dolan,
People.com,
20 May 2025
-
Washington left the event shortly after the screening began, having flown to France for the festival on his sole day off, portraying the titular role in Broadway's latest production of Othello.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreat. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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