Synonyms of retreated

retreated

verb

past tense of retreat

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

• withdrew
• retired
• fled
• receded
• evacuated
• pulled out
• fell back
• dropped back
• lost ground
• flew
• gave way
• backed away
• left
• shrank
• recoiled
• flinched
• gave ground
• detached
• went
• departed
• abandoned
• vacated
• backtracked
• disengaged
• climbed down
• backpedaled
• pulled away
• backed down
• quit
• bowed out
• disentangled
• chickened (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advanced
• confronted
• faced
• dared
• defied
• braved
• bearded
• breasted
• brazened
• outbraved

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fled
• flew
• bolted
• escaped
• ran
• broke
• skedaddled
• ran away
• beat a retreat
• ran off
• turned tail
• beat it
• hightailed (it)
• made tracks
• decamped
• bugged out
• absconded
• got (away)
• lit
• eloped
• got out
• scrammed
• made off
• skipped (out)
• cleared out
• scarpered
• lammed
• scatted
• mizzled
• skirred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confronted
• faced
• dared
• remained
• defied
• braved
• bearded
• stayed
• lingered
• dwelled
• tarried
• hung around
• abided
• stuck around

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of retreated

Exxon shares retreated about 2% in premarket trading on Friday as it’s adjusted per-share profit narrowly missed forecasts. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 31 July 2026

Out of possession, Benfica looked to man-mark higher up the pitch but retreated into their customary 4-2-3-1 shape as teams got forward, with the wingers moving infield as seen below. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Sunlight appeared, retreated behind the clouds and returned just long enough to remind us that the French Quarter was still humid and undefeated. — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Since her stage days, Cassie has retreated out of the spotlight. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Trump, too, recently talked about — and then retreated from — plans to charge tolls for safe passage. — Ron Kampeas, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026

A Little Rock police officer retreated into the street before killing the Labrador retriever that ran at him barking in the Heights neighborhood on Sunday, body camera footage released Wednesday shows. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 22 July 2026

Kelly, typically a non-demonstrative engineer, retreated to the airplane bathroom and sobbed. — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

But instead of pulling back, Elmi says, the founders reinvested their own capital, applied it to operating as an essential business, and secured favorable lease terms and available talent while competitors retreated. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 July 2026