1
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
ran away from an unhappy marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the child runs away from large dogs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rampant
showing no signs of being under control
a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sweep
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of runaway
Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Elgin police and animal control officers faced a challenge trying to wrangle the runaway, needing about 15 minutes — and the lure of carrots — to corral him, the family said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
Gazans in the north were now forced to run away from death and run toward food.
—Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 June 2025
This kind of business decision making puts your organization at risk of careening off the rails like a runaway train—or, just as bad, of stalling on the tracks completely.
—John Spencer-Taylor, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for runaway
Verb
Or the man who outlasted a near washout at Augusta to win the 2023 Masters in a runaway.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Elgin police and animal control officers faced a challenge trying to wrangle the runaway, needing about 15 minutes — and the lure of carrots — to corral him, the family said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Adjective
The driver got out and ran away, but was tackled by officers about a block away.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
Gazans in the north were now forced to run away from death and run toward food.
—Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
Noun
Critics also doubted that AI systems could quickly improve themselves in the runaway way the report suggested and argued that solving AI alignment would likely be much harder and slower.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 26 June 2025
This kind of business decision making puts your organization at risk of careening off the rails like a runaway train—or, just as bad, of stalling on the tracks completely.
—John Spencer-Taylor, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for runaway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runaway
Verb
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Police on Friday captured one of the New Orleans parish inmates who escaped six weeks ago in a jailbreak Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the worst in recent state history.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
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There is nothing inherently better about Rowling’s magic that would lead its users to escape the loss of a personal sense of accomplishment—or knowledge, skills, or tactility—and as the novels show, the threat of overuse looms as greatly over their existence as our own.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Many analysts believe Iran will retreat, reassemble its nuclear scientists and rebuild its program.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
24 June 2025
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Groups of demonstrators retreated to nearby streets, only to cut back and regroup near the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park.—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Cyberattacks against companies have been rampant for years, but a string of attacks on retail companies have raised awareness of the issue because the breaches can impact customers.—
Ani Freedman,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
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A lot of those respondents claimed to dislike the technology — but its widespread adoption implies a subtle incursion, and the implications of this rampant use are devastating.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
17 June 2025
Noun
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Masked up: Federal officers — often wearing masks but not uniforms or displaying badges — are arresting people outside courtroom hearings, during traffic stops and in workplace sweeps.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
23 June 2025
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San Antonio’s sweep of the latter series kept the average down to just 9.29 million viewers per game, while their 4-2 victory over the Nets in 2003 managed 9.86 million.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
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Jurors found Read not guilty of murder, manslaughter and fleeing a deadly accident in a trial that stretched on for more than 30 days of testimony and four days of deliberations.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
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The legislation comes as the country grapples with a severe demographic crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing war with Russia, which has forced millions of Ukrainians to flee abroad.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Verb
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Nearly two weeks ago, 62 carbon-spewing private jets reportedly flew world leaders into Kananaskis, Canada, for the G7 summit, raising serious questions about the travel choices of those who are supposed to be tackling climate change and other global crises.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
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The administration eventually flew him back, but immediately detained him on criminal charges.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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Three Welcome, Myth Busting Wins Firstly, the report is clear that ADHD remains under diagnosed in the UK, a not a rampant, uncontrolled Tik Tok trend.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Contact your dentist or primary care provider to determine the cause of uncontrolled gleeking and ways to prevent it or treat underlying conditions causing it.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Pair this brush with your blow-dryer to refresh a second-day blowout.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
28 June 2025
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The National Transportation Safety Board just issued a report on the mid-flight blowout of a door plug on a flight last year on which airline?—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Runaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runaway. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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