RUNAWAY Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

run away 1 of 3

verb

Definition of run away

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

as in to retreat

to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the child runs away from large dogs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

runaway

2 of 3

adjective

as in rampant

showing no signs of being under control a region plagued by runaway suburban sprawl

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

runaway

3 of 3

noun

as in sweep

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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 run away

Verb

Video shows the group, wearing overalls, pulling themselves out from underground and running away. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 The suspect ran away but was taken into custody hours later, Wells said. — Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The viral story of a runaway pig in West Hollywood turned out to have a Hollywood ending. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026 Jacobsen, after interrogating scientific and security experts around the world, has imagined an accident at a Siberian lab that launches a runaway outbreak. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026

Noun

And police are more likely to classify a missing Black person as a runaway, leaving the case unreported, Moore said. — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 In a garbage bag, authorities discovered the runaway’s arms and legs. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for run away

Recent Examples of Synonyms for run away

Verb

Nuclear Children follows 18-year-old Isla Sparrow who, after the death of her father in a submarine accident, hopes to escape her grieving family and flee to university.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Messick escaped further damage by striking out Jose Siri and getting Campero to pop out.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of escape

Verb

Skywatchers will not only see the moon change color, but also witness the sharp, curved edge of Earth’s shadow steadily advancing across — and later retreating from — the lunar surface.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
At a moment when Washington is retreating from its responsibilities, New York is stepping up for vulnerable immigrant children.

— Meena Shah, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of retreat

Noun

The four relievers who followed Junk logged 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball as Miami beat Washington to secure the sweep.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
With a runner on second, Sabrowski struck out pinch-hitter Travis d’Arnaud and got pinch-hitter Oswald Peraza to pop up to second as Cleveland completed a three-game sweep.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sweep

Verb

Crews struggled to contain a large wildfire near Reno, Nevada, that has forced thousands of people to flee their homes, destroyed structures and caused multiple injuries.

— Christopher Cann, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
More than a thousand people were forced to flee from a Croatian holiday resort last week, while hundreds more were evacuated from villages in western Germany and southwest France.

— Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of flee

Verb

However, what’s entirely unexpected is the sparrow continuing to fly around even when Hal takes his ring back.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
These include ballistic missiles, low-flying cruise missiles, aircraft, hypersonic threats, ships, and other surface targets.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of fly

Noun

Nvidia reported another blowout quarter on Wednesday, delivering a beat on topline metrics that was strong enough to send the stock up 4% in extended trading.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Over the weekend, a supremely happy-seeming Dudamel, before heading to the New York Philharmonic in a couple weeks, milked the thanks in a back-to-the-Bowl, four-night blowout.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of blowout

Browse Nearby Words

runaround

run away

runaway

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Style

“Run away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run%20away. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of run away

verb

adjective

noun

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