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

First Up Shares of Moderna retreated by nearly 24% Thursday on the heels of their record-setting 176% stock surge, which was prompted by promising news of their personalized cancer vaccine. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Some still laden with weapons, the ships belonged to Nazi Germany's Black Sea fleet that was deliberately sunk near the end of the war as German troops retreated from Romania and Soviet forces advanced deeper into Europe. — CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Some still laden with weapons, the ships belonged to Nazi Germany’s Black Sea fleet that was deliberately sunk near the end of the war as German troops retreated from Romania and Soviet forces advanced deeper into Europe. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

As the distance tracker on the homer climbed, Lucarelli hurriedly retreated to the main menu and restarted the game. — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Queen Elizabeth traditionally retreated to the home every August, welcoming her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other guests to spend time outdoors, play games and relax. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

The Chiefs’ running game was so listless that defenses ignored fake handoffs and instead retreated to defend the pass, knowing the consequences of guessing wrong weren’t all that punishing anyway. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026

Cryptocurrencies surged earlier in Wednesday's trading as investors assumed a risk-on posture after the Treasury Department announced its bond buyback program and Treasury yields retreated. — Sean Conlon,joseph Wilkins,justina Lee,fred Imbert, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

In late 1759, while Durrani was advancing toward India, the Marathas, under the leadership of Sadashiv Rao Bhau, retreated from the Punjab. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026