as in to flee
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
we skedaddled as soon as we saw the snake entering our campsite
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Recent Examples of skedaddle
There’s good reason to skedaddle too since more than rest and mending are going on inside and out.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Many politicians with ambitions for higher office arrive at events, are introduced, wave, shake a few hands and skedaddled to the next block on the schedule.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025
But not on this episode, because Abby and the gang were already skedaddling back to Seattle.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily, a major turning point in World War II.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily and marking a major turning point in World War II.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
The sun's peeping out, and the budding journalists skedaddle outside, where their friends are just arriving.
—Lauren Migaki, NPR, 22 Feb. 2025
The Confederates saw the score and promptly skedaddled.
—Scott Spillman, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025
Among the five Lab rats are two bosses: onscreen personality Edna (Chloë Sevigny) and Dave (Simon Rex), her partner in business and life, who soon skedaddles back to the States to deal with some legal matters that everyone but Edna is aware of.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Many politicians with ambitions for higher office arrive at events, are introduced, wave, shake a few hands and skedaddled to the next block on the schedule.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025
But not on this episode, because Abby and the gang were already skedaddling back to Seattle.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily, a major turning point in World War II.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily and marking a major turning point in World War II.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
The sun's peeping out, and the budding journalists skedaddle outside, where their friends are just arriving.
—Lauren Migaki, NPR, 22 Feb. 2025
The Confederates saw the score and promptly skedaddled.
—Scott Spillman, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025
Among the five Lab rats are two bosses: onscreen personality Edna (Chloë Sevigny) and Dave (Simon Rex), her partner in business and life, who soon skedaddles back to the States to deal with some legal matters that everyone but Edna is aware of.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skedaddle
Verb
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Velasco said families have fled to nearby towns, where many now take refuge in a soccer field.—
Megan Janetsky,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
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The suspect also shot a woman, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, before fleeing the scene, according to police.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Just as people must eventually retreat from outdoor living spaces—whether a porch, lawn, or patio—and head indoors, so too must our things.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
-
In an attempt to spark inspiration for a new Little Death origin story, Kris pays a visit to the present-day Billy, played by a regal, knowing Gillian Anderson, who retreated from public life after that first installment and whom Kris hopes to persuade to appear in her reboot.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The little girl was holding her mom’s hand when the bullets started flying outside the Southern Blvd.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
For now, though, SLS is the only rocket powerful enough and certified to fly Orion to the moon.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The quick turnaround was a whirlwind for Griffin, who bolted from Westchester to the busy downtown Brooklyn streets.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey revealed that hiring bolted higher in March after falling to near-historic lows the month before.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Here’s one of several places where Footer’s biography runs into problems.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
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Enter this breathable maxi dress, which is comfortable and functional enough to run errands in, while still being stylish enough for hosting brunch or packing for a beach vacation.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
Verb
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On March 15th, while Hitler spoke from a palace balcony to hundreds of thousands of ecstatic Austrians, Heidi’s father planned escapes for his family.—
Nicholas Dawidoff,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
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After a few years, Turner could probably escape his standstill by quitting the board, and press to axe Levin and ascend to CEO.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skedaddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skedaddle. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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