1
as in withdrawing
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 fleeing
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 retreating
Yesterday seemed much more like a team retreating by choice, both through in-game changes and by the sheer fear of surrendering another lead — a fear that became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
—
Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
The video ends with federal agents retreating into a nearby building as protesters advanced toward their position, shouting and cheering.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Together, these moves position China as a responsible power at the very moment others are retreating.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The federal government is retreating from its longstanding housing and economic responsibility to cities across the nation.
—Keith Wilson, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
However, erosion has accelerated in recent years, with the shoreline retreating at a rate of roughly 4 feet per year, according to the report.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Consumer spending has continued to prove resilient, and business investment, far from retreating, has strengthened in sectors tied to artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, and manufacturing reshoring.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Later, half of them mime shooting the others, who are retreating with their hands up.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
The shirtless trio of Anthony, Mayer and Gonzalez, now joined by Jarren Duran, emerged briefly from the dugout for one last hurrah before retreating back into the confines of the clubhouse.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
The video ends with federal agents retreating into a nearby building as protesters advanced toward their position, shouting and cheering.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Together, these moves position China as a responsible power at the very moment others are retreating.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The federal government is retreating from its longstanding housing and economic responsibility to cities across the nation.
—Keith Wilson, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
However, erosion has accelerated in recent years, with the shoreline retreating at a rate of roughly 4 feet per year, according to the report.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
Consumer spending has continued to prove resilient, and business investment, far from retreating, has strengthened in sectors tied to artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, and manufacturing reshoring.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Later, half of them mime shooting the others, who are retreating with their hands up.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025
The shirtless trio of Anthony, Mayer and Gonzalez, now joined by Jarren Duran, emerged briefly from the dugout for one last hurrah before retreating back into the confines of the clubhouse.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreating
Verb
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Instead, agriculture accounts for nearly 90% of water usage, including withdrawing non-renewable water reserves.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Harry has twice sued Associated Newspapers for libel, winning one case and withdrawing the other, while his wife Meghan has also won a privacy lawsuit against the publisher.—
Michael Holden,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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China began conducting the contentious patrols after a February 2024 accident in which two Chinese fishermen drowned near Kinmen while fleeing from Taiwan’s coast guard.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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About 10 minutes later, a suspect drove onto the grass near 14 Mile and Van Dyke and struck two pedestrians before fleeing the scene.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If anything, the two games at Dodger Stadium showed the struggles of the Reds’ offense, with Blake Snell allowing only two base runners in the first six innings of his Game 1 start, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up two runs in the first inning of Game 2 before retiring 13 straight.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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The big move by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway to buy the chemicals business of oil giant Occidental Petroleum for nearly $10 billion is a double win for Berkshire, analysts say, in Buffett’s potential swan song deal before retiring at the end of December.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What To Know Schleswig-Holstein's interior minster, Sabine Sütterlin-Waack, confirmed that drones were seen flying above the coastal state just south of Denmark overnight into Friday, September 26, and that the incident is under investigation for potential sabotage or espionage.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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The shutdown means the Fed will be partially flying blind with investors expecting the central bank's second rate cut of the year later this month and another decrease in December.—
Sean Conlon,Pia Singh,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cool-season planting keeps parsley from bolting, or going to seed quickly.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
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Only this time, the quarterback exploded through the line, followed a crushing lead block by Skattebo and bolting into the end zone.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After escaping prison in New Jersey in November 1979, Shakur lived in hiding for several years before being smuggled to Cuba, where Fidel Castro’s government granted her asylum in 1984.—
Essence,
Essence,
30 Sep. 2025
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Female students were praying separately and escaping from another part of the school.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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She was appointed solicitor general in 2023 by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who is running for governor.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
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Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D’Andre Swift in the 2017 backfield, and 2018 with Swift and Elijah Holyfield both running for 1,000 yards.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreating. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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