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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of run away
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
The Colorado Avalanche are running away with the league at 74 points, but it’s been clear for weeks that Dallas is in a battle for second and home-ice advantage in the first round.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 18 Jan. 2026
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2026
The original book became a runaway hit and was later adapted into a wildly popular Apple TV series starring Garner, making her presence at the event especially meaningful.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Hailey Buzbee is listed as a runaway by the Fishers Police Department.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for run away
Verb
Otherwise, the Broncos might barrel through them and threaten to run away with an upset.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
The Colorado Avalanche are running away with the league at 74 points, but it’s been clear for weeks that Dallas is in a battle for second and home-ice advantage in the first round.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
No one — not creator Jacob Tierney, or author Rachel Reid, or stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams — knew that the steamy hockey series Heated Rivalry would be a runaway hit.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2026
The original book became a runaway hit and was later adapted into a wildly popular Apple TV series starring Garner, making her presence at the event especially meaningful.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Noun
In Arthur Penn’s 1975 neo-noir Night Moves, Griffith is Delly Grastner, a 16-year-old runaway with a little girl’s voice and a grown woman’s body—on full display in an underwater nude scene—intent on seducing Gene Hackman, 43 and paunchy.
—Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Hailey Buzbee is listed as a runaway by the Fishers Police Department.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for run away
Recent Examples of Synonyms for run away
Verb
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Austin Abrams stars as a scuba diver who, while searching for his father’s (Josh Brolin) body, gets swallowed and must find a way to escape.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Set in 1977, during Brazil’s military dictatorship, the thriller details Armando and his son in their efforts to escape the country in the midst of political turmoil.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump’s remarks Wednesday, suddenly retreating from his threat of military force, could mitigate some of the damage inflicted on Washington’s most cherished relationships.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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Start the day with a swim in one of the hotel’s three infinity pools before retreating to the bar for a lunchtime cocktail, or the spa for pampering.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Following the election, Republicans at the federal and state levels launched multiple investigations into the results of the 2020 election and found no rampant voter fraud.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
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Not long ago, California took a baby step toward addressing this rampant decay.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In late April, when Wilkins performed the national anthem at an NRA conference in Atlanta, a SWAT team conducted a security advance sweep and left, concluding the event was free of threats.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
22 Jan. 2026
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Whereas the National Gallery includes Gilliam in a narrative formerly dominated by white painters, the Anacostia Community Museum uses him to include its visitors in the sweep of American art.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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No one was injured, and the suspects fled before deputies arrived.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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Other offenses include fleeing from police, escaping from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, theft, trespassing and giving police a false name.—
Tom Olsen,
Twin Cities,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is like ignoring weather conditions when flying an airplane.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Narcotraffickers have recruited a number of couriers to fly to Miami and other cities to set up phony businesses with corporate bank accounts, authorities say.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The civil complaint accuses hospital staff of failing to put a safety clamp on the peripheral IV tubing to prevent uncontrolled flow of D10 into Zendaya and failing to disconnect the IV tubing from Zendaya after the umbilical catheters were placed.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
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Unlike autonomous cars which operate on public roads and uncontrolled environments, agriculture occurs on private land where everything is more controlled, which minimizes regulatory hurdles and potential for accidents.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Razorbacks overcame a six-point hole at halftime with the Red Raiders and battled back from 21 points down to the Cougars to escape a blowout.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Jan. 2026
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Elias Lindholm, who left Saturday’s blowout as a precaution because of a nagging injury, was back in the lineup.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Run away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/run%20away. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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