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
With nothing but West Ham’s rapidly retreating defence in front of him, and an instant four-on-four, Guimaraes drove forward before picking out Murphy to his right, in a position to isolate left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf with a one-vs-one.
—
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
After retreating behind the walls of Culloden Parks, the remaining fighters soon surrendered.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025
Given the likelihood of the measure’s approval by voters on Election Day, California Republicans are reportedly retreating from their anti-Proposition 50 campaign.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
Precious metals and related mining stocks are retreating after a parabolic upmove over the past two months.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
On Tuesday, a federal immigration raid on street vendors who power the mini-economy of Canal’s sidewalks sent many retreating into the shadows.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Pornosexuals are clearly not the only people out there in the process of retreating from life.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
With his unique falsetto, emotional delivery and irresistible backstory — retreating to a cabin in the woods following a pair of personal and professional breakups to record in solitude — Bon Iver earned significant industry respect and a devoted cult following.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
Wyeth keeps the men at lens-length before retreating to the studio.
—Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
After retreating behind the walls of Culloden Parks, the remaining fighters soon surrendered.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025
Given the likelihood of the measure’s approval by voters on Election Day, California Republicans are reportedly retreating from their anti-Proposition 50 campaign.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
Precious metals and related mining stocks are retreating after a parabolic upmove over the past two months.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
On Tuesday, a federal immigration raid on street vendors who power the mini-economy of Canal’s sidewalks sent many retreating into the shadows.
—Daniella Silva, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
Pornosexuals are clearly not the only people out there in the process of retreating from life.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
With his unique falsetto, emotional delivery and irresistible backstory — retreating to a cabin in the woods following a pair of personal and professional breakups to record in solitude — Bon Iver earned significant industry respect and a devoted cult following.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
Wyeth keeps the men at lens-length before retreating to the studio.
—Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreating
Verb
-
Ciattarelli called it an affordability crisis and has called for withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an agreement among Northeast states to cap their emissions.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
4 Nov. 2025
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Elsewhere in the league, Virginia Tech’s Neoklis Avdalas declared for the draft last year out of Greece before withdrawing.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Little Rock man who, police say, crashed while fleeing from an Arkansas State Police trooper last week now faces first-degree murder counts in the death of two teenage passengers, authorities said Wednesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Born in Tehran, Atash migrated to the United States alone at the age of 19, fleeing war, trauma, and abuse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Leaders like former American Express CEO Ken Chenault and retiring Partnership for New York City CEO, Kathryn Wylde come to mind.—
Sally Susman,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Sonya Evans stays in District 4 Sonya Evans, a former Blue Valley School District parent, made the jump to district leadership in 2023 when she was tapped to replace a retiring Kaety Bowers.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The conservative backlash isn’t surprising, but we were still left genuinely puzzled by the unshakable belief that a lesbian nun is as far-fetched a notion as a flying elephant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The wood-free Hyper Core composite walls are finished in automotive grade aluminum outer panels framed out via 11-gauge aluminum corner rails, protecting the trailer from low branches and flying debris.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
-
Toronto’s fielding fails them Addison Barger stared at the sky, bolting to his right as Austin Wells’ fly ball fell.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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They were forced to—escaping with just the clothes on their backs and the courage to rebuild their lives in a foreign land.—
Grace Meng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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Though underground testing is considered safer, 32 of those tests in Nevada resulted in fallout escaping into the atmosphere, according to a 1993 UN report.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Prior to October 2023, Israel had occupied both Gaza and the West Bank since 1967—the longest-running military occupation in modern history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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The country’s electoral commission said Hassan had won 98% of the votes in an election where several opposition politicians were barred from running, and many were arrested.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreating. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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