flee

verb

ˈflē How to pronounce flee (audio)
Definition of fleenext
1
as in to disappear
to cease to be visible the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to escape
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation a murderer who fled on foot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening a toddler who fled when the ladybug he had been quietly watching suddenly began flying around the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flee Police said that Jaime fled for a short distance but was quickly caught by responding officers. — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026 After the killing, suspects fled the home and allegedly burned a white vehicle, per La Nación. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 Defense attorney Kathryn Nester asked Bagley about finding an empty pistol holster on the ground after the crowd fled. — Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Investigators have identified a San Diego police officer and an allegedly fleeing suspect involved in a shooting near a Morena riverbed last week, sheriff’s officials said. — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flee
  1. disappear
  2. escape
  3. retreat
  4. vanish
  5. fly
  6. fade
  7. bolt
  8. run
Verb
  • His plan worked, and the bear darted to the side of the road before disappearing back into the woods.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Safe havens, in other words, have not disappeared but have become far less predictable.
    — Lim Hui Jie,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of disappear
Verb
  • If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
  • At the same time, East Florida's population was growing as British loyalists fled Georgia and the Carolinas to escape harassment from supporters of independence.
    — Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of escape
Verb
  • Once again, Brazil’s midfield is quickly retreating towards their own goal as Morocco pile forward.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Moreover, the shock of higher prices is still fresh in people's minds and may be coloring consumers' purchasing decisions, despite signs that prices should retreat further.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • First-time homebuyers are a vanishing breed First-time buyers represented only 21% of all home purchasers in 2025, a record low, according to the National Association of Realtors.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Perhaps that last claim feels overblown, but movies indisputably falsify reality, presenting a world that seems hypervivid for a few hours but vanishes when the lights come up.
    — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of vanish
Verb
  • Adeline André will close out the official calendar in Paris, on Thursday at 4pm, while a number of attendees will fly to Rome for the Fendi show that evening at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • Norway and Brazil were locked in a tense, back-and-forth game Sunday, in the round of 16, until Haaland came flying in with that header to give Norway a 1-0 lead.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • But rental business owners like Zhao observed that the rental prices have begun to slide as novelty surrounding these stunt-performing androids fades.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • The combination of hyaluronic and azelaic acid does wonders to fade dark spots, soothe redness, and deeply hydrate.
    — Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Definition of fade
Verb
  • The ones that keep bolting on disconnected tools will find themselves with more complexity, more vendor relationships to manage and very little to show for it.
    — Dave Wessinger, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Much of the structure is supported by a series of massive poles that extend from the ground to the roofline, with long beams bolted to the posts to carry the weight of decks and living spaces.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 June 2026
Definition of bolt
Verb
  • Villaraigosa, who led the city from 2005-13 and recently ran for governor, argued that this is not the right time to make even that change.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Between there, and running upstairs to supervise fittings of his monumentally sculptural work with his stylist Tallulah Harlech, the designer caught a rare moment to sit and talk.
    — Sarah Mower, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Definition of run

Browse Nearby Words

fledglings
flee
fleece
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Cite this Entry

“Flee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flee. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flee

Nglish: Translation of flee for Spanish Speakers

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