1
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
ran away from an unhappy marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of runaway
Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Paige Bueckers, the runaway for Rookie of the Year and already one of the best in the league.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
Attendees have also shared video footage of students on campus running away from the sound of gunshots.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
Even at a quarter-throttle, the 765LT pulls like a runaway train.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runaway
Verb
Because of this, detection of thermal runaway and firefighting measures may be delayed in flight, increasing the risk to safety.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Paige Bueckers, the runaway for Rookie of the Year and already one of the best in the league.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
One video widely circulating on social media showed an individual apparently lying on a roof before the shooting; in another video, an individual on a roof appears to run away after the shooting.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 Sep. 2025
Attendees have also shared video footage of students on campus running away from the sound of gunshots.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
Nicholas is especially attuned to how the distortion of visual perception can trigger a cascade of runaway mental and physical responses.
—Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
Even at a quarter-throttle, the 765LT pulls like a runaway train.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runaway
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runaway
Verb
-
Most want to see better protections and less exploitation of fighters so that they are exposed to the least amount of danger in a sport that cannot escape it.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And if the Fed ends up cutting fewer times than traders expect, including three this year, the market could retreat in disappointment.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
One deputy retreated while two of them fired their guns, hitting Williams and Lane, authorities said.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This rampant, unauthorized AI use degrades the educational experience of individual students who overly rely on the technology and those who wish to avoid using it.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Speculation remains rampant that those three ACC schools will leave that league before the end of this decade for the SEC or Big Ten.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The series appeared to be headed for a sweep in the acting categories when Britt Lower pulled an upset early in the ceremony by taking the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series over Matlock nominee Kathy Bates.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The mass arrest marks the largest sweep yet in the crackdown at US worksites.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Following its defeat by Communist Party forces in the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Nationalist movement, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to the island in 1949 as a government in exile.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In six months, the site has grown from 600 people fleeing gang attacks in nearby Delmas 30 to 5,000 people from all over the capital, sheltering in packed government offices and makeshift shacks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While some travelers choose to fly on Thanksgiving Day for lower prices and crowds, most leave at least a day early to avoid the risk of cancellations or delays upending their holiday plans.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Two games in, though, the Packers have passed both tests with flying colors.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Then, uncontrolled, jerky movements develop as well as vision loss, dementia, and seizures.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
-
While viral replication results in uncontrolled production of a large amounts of the protein, the way it’s produced by the mRNA vaccine is very different.—
Deborah Fuller,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
New Mexico ran for 298 yards on the Bruins on Friday night in the Rose Bowl, after Utah ran for 286 yards in the Bruins’ home opener, a 43-10 blowout loss in Week 1.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
McDaniels only scored one win at Miami without Brady, a 2008 blowout with Matt Cassel at quarterback.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Runaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runaway. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share