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
Relevance
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retreat
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Showers are supposed to be your at-home relaxing retreat.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
The controversy may also have inspired Colleen Hoover's upcoming novel, about a writer who retreats after online backlash about a film adaptation.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retreat
Noun
Authorities said Robinson allegedly sniped Kirk from a position on top of the Sorensen Student Center, several hundred feet away from him, and then made a hasty retreat into a nearby neighborhood.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Showers are supposed to be your at-home relaxing retreat.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Working members of the royal family like the Prince and Princess of Wales traditionally retreat from mid-July through August for a private summer break before fall begins.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
The controversy may also have inspired Colleen Hoover's upcoming novel, about a writer who retreats after online backlash about a film adaptation.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retreat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreat
Noun
-
The exercise, which comes to its 66th iteration, included in-port and underway phases, with the latter featuring live-fire drills—such as a ship-sinking event and a ship-to-shore landing and force withdrawal, demonstrating amphibious capabilities.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
On Sunday, the Indian Meteorological Department said that conditions are favorable for withdrawal of monsoon from parts of Punjab and other states over the next three days.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Legendary actor Marlon Brando bought this French Polynesia refuge in the 1960s—after filming Mutiny on the Bounty nearby—and his estate has transformed it into an eco-luxe private island paradise.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Charlotte had been her refuge from the violence abroad, but now Zarutska lost her life there.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Duncan even contemplated mounting a third-party challenge to Trump as a No Labels candidate last year before withdrawing his name from consideration.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The Biden administration had weighed withdrawing antitrust immunity for the joint venture, which began in 2016.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Following its defeat by Communist Party forces in the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Nationalist movement, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to the island in 1949 as a government in exile.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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In six months, the site has grown from 600 people fleeing gang attacks in nearby Delmas 30 to 5,000 people from all over the capital, sheltering in packed government offices and makeshift shacks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Unfortunately, after 19 seasons in the league and being a fan of the game since retirement, Hall of Famer CC Sabathia isn’t surprised to see fans fight over baseballs.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Its longtime publisher, John Morse, was forced into early retirement.—
Stefan Fatsis,
The Atlantic,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Eighteen students who fled from the shooting took shelter at a home just down the road, after an initial group of them pounded on the door asking for help, resident Don Cygan told 9News.—
Katie Langford,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Maxwell pitched a scoreless, and then Connor Phillips, a relative veteran with 18 big-league appearances on his resume, worked around a walk to retire the top of the Padres’ order and earned the win following Tyler Stephenson’s homer.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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Rutherford, who retired in 2021 but previously worked with Barth on certain programs, said Barth’s expertise was particularly useful in dealing with challenges that most people don’t fully consider.—
Nathan Ansell,
Arkansas Online,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While some travelers choose to fly on Thanksgiving Day for lower prices and crowds, most leave at least a day early to avoid the risk of cancellations or delays upending their holiday plans.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Two games in, though, the Packers have passed both tests with flying colors.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreat. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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