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
-
After resolving debt and avoiding Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the always press-averse Ellison departed Hollywood right before the COVID-19 pandemic and largely stayed away for a number of years.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Passengers who leave Austin before April 1 and return afterward will depart from the South Terminal but arrive back at the main terminal.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Feeling unwell and still adjusting to the weekly grind of the ATP Tour, the Irvine native exited in the first round and quickly scratched it from his mind.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Vela headlines a group of three new limited partners joining LAFC’s ownership group, with two existing investors exiting the club, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This led investigators to determine that Michael’s body was once buried in the backyard, but moved before the excavation.—
Alex Brizee
March 5,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
With this framework in place, the robots can move with human-like agility, run, jump, and climb over obstacles in urban or natural environments.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But of course, a Democratic lawmaker could still go rogue and force a Gonzales expulsion vote on their own.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Collin Sexton came of the bench to score 28 points for the Bulls (26-38), who have lost 16 of 19 after going 23-22 to start the season.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Vanderbilt got as close as 11 points in the final frame, but Ole Miss was able to hold off the Commodores’ comeback bid.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
New graduates who could readily relocate, get roommates, or move back in with mom and dad can get away with a smaller emergency fund.—
Christine Benz,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scarper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scarper. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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