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
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
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Faced with no other conceivable options, Gladys ends the episode by running away from home and disappearing into the night.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 22 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
Officers immediately responded to the scene and were informed that a man wearing a black mask and all black clothing was seen running away, the affidavit states.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Faced with no other conceivable options, Gladys ends the episode by running away from home and disappearing into the night.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 22 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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Many analysts believe Iran will retreat, reassemble its nuclear scientists and rebuild its program.—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
The speculation was rampant all around the league when news of James’ decision broke, with rival executives wondering if this was a precursor to a trade request (James, remember, has a no-trade clause and could thus control any such move).—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
-
The rampant abuse of 9-year-old Owen started as early as June 2023 and continued up until his death Sept. 19, 2024 when police were called to the home for an unresponsive child, prosecutors said.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Simmons is then accused of carjacking a vehicle from someone who was at the medical facility and fleeing the scene.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
-
Residents in the path of a wildfire in California have been urged to flee as officials order evacuations across the region.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The administration eventually flew him back, but immediately detained him on criminal charges.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Pair this brush with your blow-dryer to refresh a second-day blowout.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
28 June 2025
-
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 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share