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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retreating
Advertisement The ability to sit face to face, to listen as much as to argue, to disagree without retreating into caricature is a prerequisite for meaningful action.
—
Alan H.h. Fleischmann, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Defeat at Fort Necessity Washington then made the fateful decision to dig in and call for reinforcements instead of retreating in the face of inevitable French retaliation.
—Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Dinner usually means a lively table at Sweet Basil or Mountain Standard before retreating back to the hotel for a nightcap and a hot tub soak.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Software stocks led the latest downdraft, with the S & P 500 software index sliding 5% Thursday and retreating for a seventh straight day, helping push the entire S & P 500 lower for a third day.
—Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026
Illinois lawmakers recently flirted with a tax on unrealized gains—think of stocks yet to be sold at fluctuating prices that only exist on paper—before retreating.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
The cold air seemed to push south and east and then lingered for much of the week rather than retreating.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Address conflict directly without retreating.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Between the whip lash of braving icy winds and retreating to heat-blasting apartments, nearly every skin type can start to feel off-balance.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Alan H.h. Fleischmann, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Defeat at Fort Necessity Washington then made the fateful decision to dig in and call for reinforcements instead of retreating in the face of inevitable French retaliation.
—Christopher Magra, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Dinner usually means a lively table at Sweet Basil or Mountain Standard before retreating back to the hotel for a nightcap and a hot tub soak.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Software stocks led the latest downdraft, with the S & P 500 software index sliding 5% Thursday and retreating for a seventh straight day, helping push the entire S & P 500 lower for a third day.
—Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026
Illinois lawmakers recently flirted with a tax on unrealized gains—think of stocks yet to be sold at fluctuating prices that only exist on paper—before retreating.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
The cold air seemed to push south and east and then lingered for much of the week rather than retreating.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Address conflict directly without retreating.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Between the whip lash of braving icy winds and retreating to heat-blasting apartments, nearly every skin type can start to feel off-balance.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreating
Verb
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In the wake of the Pretti shooting by Border Patrol agents, Homan announced last week that 700 immigration enforcement officials would start withdrawing from Minnesota.—
Julia Manchester,
The Hill,
12 Feb. 2026
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The men allegedly cased banks to prey on people who were withdrawing or depositing money at banks, according to the release.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He has been charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, and felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, the sheriff’s office said.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
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That evidence came in the form of a video recorded by the Venezuelan national's wife, who said her husband was shot in front of their family while fleeing ICE officers on foot.—
Stephen Swanson,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Siffre took a sporadic approach to releasing music over the years, dropping six albums in a five-year span during the ’70s, including his standout LP Crying Laughing Loving Lying, before retiring.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
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Liu is the reigning world and Grand Prix champion who returned to figure skating after retiring at 16, just after the 2022 Games.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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House Bill 561, sponsored by Hill and focused on blocking Boise from flying a Pride flag, was sent to the House’s amending order after a debate on the House floor.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Feb. 2026
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A number of the parents who witnessed that 2024 apology are flying in from around the country in hopes of securing a courtroom seat to watch Zuckerberg’s witness testimony.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Additionally, peppers can offer a bit of afternoon shade to your lettuce plants, slowing down bolting and prolonging harvest.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
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The high-stakes move is aimed at stopping a half-dozen suburbs from bolting from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But a previous owner of the injection well noted in a report to the state that the well was missing a layer of cement that would help prevent the wastewater from escaping at shallow depths, where most drinking water sources exist, Plummer wrote in an email to oil division colleagues.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
-
So much for escaping the bubble.—
The Editors,
Outside,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That left only three crew members to keep the place running — one American and two Russians — prompting NASA to pause spacewalks and trim research.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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After the nuptials, hundreds of dyads will renew their vows as part of Love in Times Square, a long-running tradition held by the Times Square Alliance, a neighborhood nonprofit.—
Andrea Sachs,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreating. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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