1
as in withdrew
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fled
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
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Recent Examples of retreated
In the clip, the puppy dashed toward his new little friend; at first the Chihuahua retreated, stuck his tongue out and paw up, and then bounded toward him.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Instead of developing arguments or persuading people, both sides have retreated to their silos and erected their own media echo chambers.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
Callas lost her voice and retreated to her mausoleum-like apartment on the Avenue Georges Mandel in Paris’ posh sixteenth arrondissement.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
This global network of banks that provide cross-border payments and settlement has retreated amid the de-risking movement that accelerated following the 2008 financial crisis.
—Aaron Stanley, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Alsek Lake has nearly doubled in size since 1984, as its surrounding glaciers have retreated steadily over the past four decades.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
As teams retreated to their benches, the match was immediately delayed, followed by an announcement of an early halftime.
—Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
In the last 250 years, this glacier has retreated 65 miles to form Glacier Bay.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 14 Sep. 2025
One deputy retreated while two of them fired their guns, hitting Williams and Lane, authorities said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Instead of developing arguments or persuading people, both sides have retreated to their silos and erected their own media echo chambers.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
Callas lost her voice and retreated to her mausoleum-like apartment on the Avenue Georges Mandel in Paris’ posh sixteenth arrondissement.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
This global network of banks that provide cross-border payments and settlement has retreated amid the de-risking movement that accelerated following the 2008 financial crisis.
—Aaron Stanley, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Alsek Lake has nearly doubled in size since 1984, as its surrounding glaciers have retreated steadily over the past four decades.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
As teams retreated to their benches, the match was immediately delayed, followed by an announcement of an early halftime.
—Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
In the last 250 years, this glacier has retreated 65 miles to form Glacier Bay.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 14 Sep. 2025
One deputy retreated while two of them fired their guns, hitting Williams and Lane, authorities said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreated
Verb
-
On the men’s side, Jakub Menšík, also Czech, lasted just five games before retiring against Australia’s Alex de Minaur, while Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti withdrew down 3-0 in the third set against young American Learner Tien.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The administration of President Joe Biden withdrew that rule proposal in 2021.—
Jesse Coburn,
ProPublica,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fatima Yousufi, a former player for the Afghanistan national soccer team who fled to Australia, said her family had been trying to reach her aunt, a single mom who relies on money sent from abroad to feed her four children.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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The film was inspired by and is dedicated to director Maryam Touzani’s grandmother, part of the large Spanish community in Tangier that had fled the Franco regime and settled in the Northern Moroccan city in the 1930s.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At the time of their release, the cougars both bolted to freedom after rescuers opened the crates’ doors, photos from the nonprofit show.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
29 Sep. 2025
-
But right as the words left Trotter’s mouth, the man bolted down a dirt road.—
TJ Macias,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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So the manager went back to Whitlock for a second inning of work in the eighth and Whitlock nearly escaped before running out of steam.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Staff said the python likely escaped its home and asked for help finding the snake’s owner.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Some of the rolls of masking tape went faster than others, especially when Goldberg-Polin was running around the world trying to save Hersh.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Rents will run from $1,500 for studios to $3,400 for three-bedroom units, according to the release.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retreated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreated. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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