as in to depart
to leave a place often for another
I went looking for Sally at the pub, but she'd scarpered
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Recent Examples of scarper
Taylor Tomlinson will host After Midnight, the show that is replacing The Late Late Show now that James Corden has scarpered off to old Blighty.
—
Vulture, 1 Nov. 2023
Idrissa Gueye has scarpered, but that void was instantly filled by Mainz midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin - while Moise Kean, goodness knows how, has signed from Juventus to sharpen things up front.
—SI.com, 5 Aug. 2019
Ms Collett compares it to the muggy period before a thunderstorm, when the squirrels have scarpered and the air is pregnant with foreboding of trouble ahead.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
Vulture, 1 Nov. 2023
Idrissa Gueye has scarpered, but that void was instantly filled by Mainz midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin - while Moise Kean, goodness knows how, has signed from Juventus to sharpen things up front.
—SI.com, 5 Aug. 2019
Ms Collett compares it to the muggy period before a thunderstorm, when the squirrels have scarpered and the air is pregnant with foreboding of trouble ahead.
—The Economist, 21 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scarper
Verb
-
House Speaker Mike Johnson departs after a vote at the Capitol on March 26, 2026.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The shareholder letter also revealed that Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings would be departing its board of directors to focus on philanthropic efforts.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After driving around on the freeways for more than 15 minutes, the suspect exited onto city streets in the Compton area.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But Dominguez exited to boos with the bases loaded and one out after allowing Caminero's leadoff home run, a single, a walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The draft pick was top-10 protected in 2026, and with the Panthers owning the eighth-worst record in the NHL this season, the worst that pick can be after the draft lottery is 10th, as a maximum of two teams can potentially move up past the Panthers in that lottery.—
Steve Svekis,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
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Homeowner Maha Amin moved three dozen sandbags from the trunk of her car to her driveway Thursday, bracing for more flooding in Des Plaines.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the courtroom, Alfortish’s face looked gaunt after spending roughly a year in prison, and his hair, thinning now, had gone white.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The Nets, who went 26-56 last season, have lost four consecutive season finales.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At that moment Contreras made perhaps the biggest play of the game, eschewing the easy force play on McGonigle at first and making the considerably more challenging throw to second to get the lead runner.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
In 2024-25, the Lightning went 29-8-4 at home during the regular season and pushed to get home-ice advantage over the Panthers by finishing second in the Atlantic Division.—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scarper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarper. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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