Synonyms of retreats

retreats 1 of 2

noun

plural of retreat

1

as in withdrawals

an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable

we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdrawals
• retirements
• pullouts
• pullbacks
• recessions
• routs
• recoils
• revulsions
• flinches
• disengagements
• disentanglements

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advances
• advancements

2

as in refuges

something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger

her bedroom served as a retreat from the frequent arguing between her parents

the abandoned cabin was a welcome retreat from the storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuges
• shelters
• sanctuaries
• havens
• residences
• asylums
• lodgings
• bolt-holes
• harbors
• sanctums
• oases
• hideouts
• abodes
• quarters
• dwellings
• harborages
• hideaways
• ports
• moorings
• strongholds
• rests
• houses
• anchorages
• screens
• domiciles
• fortresses
• housings
• places
• roofs
• cloisters
• hermitages
• habitations
• forts
• dens
• castles
• coverts
• sheds
• lairs
• diggings
• redoubts
• covers
• pads
• closets
• lodgments
• palisades
• windbreaks
• lees
• lean-tos

retreats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of retreat

1

as in withdraws

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

• withdraws
• retires
• flees
• recedes
• falls back
• pulls out
• drops back
• evacuates
• gives way
• backs away
• flies
• recoils
• gives ground
• leaves
• shrinks
• flinches
• loses ground
• detaches
• chickens (out)
• goes
• abandons
• departs
• disengages
• climbs down
• vacates
• pulls away
• backs down
• backtracks
• backpedals
• bows out
• quits
• disentangles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advances
• confronts
• dares
• faces
• breasts
• defies
• braves
• brazens
• outbraves
• beards

2

as in flees

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

• flees
• flies
• escapes
• runs
• bolts
• breaks
• beats a retreat
• runs away
• runs off
• beats it
• turns tail
• hightails (it)
• makes tracks
• skedaddles
• absconds
• bugs out
• decamps
• skips (out)
• elopes
• gets (away)
• gets out
• lights out
• lams
• makes off
• scats
• clears out
• scrams
• scarpers
• mizzles
• skirrs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confronts
• dares
• faces
• defies
• stays
• remains
• dwells
• braves
• lingers
• hangs around
• abides
• beards
• sticks around
• tarries

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of retreats

Noun

Alongside the free-roaming Sandalwood ponies that canter along the beach, Carol also oversees the nearby sanctuary and runs her own equine retreats on request. — Charley Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026

Jani offers overwater retreats with water slides that lead into turquoise waters in the Noonu Atoll. — Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

These lavish retreats provided an escape from the city and the summer heat, a place for diversions like hunting and horseback riding, and enough land to build grand showpiece palaces and gardens. — Rick Steves, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2026

While born on the road and in the big rooms, much of Pure Devotion stems from retreats to small studios in Iceland and Spain, writing on a minimal setup of a couple of synths and an FX unit. — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 8 Aug. 2026

Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards recognized several standout properties, with Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, earning the top spot among international wellness retreats for more than a decade. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026

Not all retreats are monastic, and seclusion can easily nourish a hothouse of gossip. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

This manifested in practice for the band in several writing retreats at Joshua Tree and Idyllwild. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026

The entire two-story project was designed to be used 365 days a year, Burk said, and the school has already booked upcoming Christmas parties, corporate retreats and dances. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026

Verb

As his mind retreats to the hues of old movies, Charlotte breaks the fog with a glimmer of humanity. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026

The gunman briefly retreats, then returns to the window and fires inside the restaurant again, injuring a good Samaritan who was trying to help the trooper and render aid to Garibay. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026

Start with energy markets and the fear of disruption to oil and gas exports if the United States retreats. — Michael Fuchs, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026

Their late summer adventures will likely take them to their country home, Anmer Hall, as well as to Balmoral, where the royal family retreats en masse as summer begins to turn into fall. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 29 July 2026

The mountain range is just a short distance from Balmoral, the Scottish castle and estate where the royal family annually retreats in late summer. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

The footage then appears to show the person attempting to kick the sea lion again as the animal retreats from its resting spot. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 27 July 2026

But real vulnerability rarely survives beyond a song before Twain retreats to reflexive brightness. — Amanda Wicks, Pitchfork, 25 July 2026

As the hours tick away, Alana continues to emotionally unravel while Michael retreats inward, stonewalling law enforcement and his staff and pressing forward with life as usual. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 July 2026