escape artist

noun

: someone (such as a performer or criminal) unusually adept at escaping from confinement

Examples of escape artist in a Sentence

Harry Houdini became famous as an escape artist.
Recent Examples on the Web The magician, escape artist and spiritualist debunker was added to the Walk of Fame in 1975, nearly a half-century after his death in 1926. Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024 Anderson wondered what surroundings could contain a quantum escape artist. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 What does this Barbie-singer-podcaster have in common with famed escape artist Harry Houdini? Vulture, 9 Nov. 2023 The announcement arrived after weeks of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it teasers sporadically posted to Lipa’s social media pages, a nod to the elusive air of Harry Houdini, the iconic Hungarian-American escape artist and illusionist from whom the song’s title derives. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 9 Nov. 2023 Back in 1899, the legendary escape artist wriggled his way out of a straitjacket while dangling upside down, 45 feet above 4th Street. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2023 From our research, parents that tested cribs that were taller were generally confident that their babies wouldn’t turn into escape artists. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 22 June 2023 Her works can be found in the collections of America’s great museums, and she is justly regarded not as an escape artist, but as one of modern art’s true originals. Washington Post, 8 June 2023 James Randi, a Canadian magician and escape artist, known professionally as the Amazing Randi, went much further. David Segal, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'escape artist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of escape artist was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near escape artist

Cite this Entry

“Escape artist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escape%20artist. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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