1
as in fleeing
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
a judge who is very determined not to let criminals escape punishment
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 escaping
The data hinted that water vapor escaping from Europa’s surface could be breaking apart into hydrogen and oxygen in space.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Octopuses can move at high speed by sucking water into an interior funnel and squirting it out like air escaping from a balloon.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 25 May 2026
By contrast, there is no escaping Rotta.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Outdoor activities and adventures abound, from climbing the Pyramid of Tirana—a nearly 70-foot-tall concrete structure that once housed a museum dedicated to communist leader Enver Hoxha—to escaping the city for a scenic hike at Dajti Mountain National Park.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026
Scenes from this film-within-a-film play out in full, and feature Emma Mackey as a damsel escaping a hungry, humanoid fish creature, while a pair of mad scientists, played by comedy duo Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, attempt to study the ravenous creature.
—Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
The 11-bed unit, opened in 2005, has a dedicated laboratory and HEPA-filtered, negative-pressure rooms that prevent pathogens from escaping into all patient rooms.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 17 May 2026
While the early scenes radiate the relaxed ease of sisterhood escaping a harsh reality, the tone shifts to a darker register, both emotionally and visually.
—Jay Weissberg, Variety, 17 May 2026
Little Joe has spent 30 years in Boston, making headlines after escaping in 2003, running through the streets of the city, and injuring a little girl.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Octopuses can move at high speed by sucking water into an interior funnel and squirting it out like air escaping from a balloon.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 25 May 2026
By contrast, there is no escaping Rotta.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Outdoor activities and adventures abound, from climbing the Pyramid of Tirana—a nearly 70-foot-tall concrete structure that once housed a museum dedicated to communist leader Enver Hoxha—to escaping the city for a scenic hike at Dajti Mountain National Park.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2026
Scenes from this film-within-a-film play out in full, and feature Emma Mackey as a damsel escaping a hungry, humanoid fish creature, while a pair of mad scientists, played by comedy duo Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, attempt to study the ravenous creature.
—Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
The 11-bed unit, opened in 2005, has a dedicated laboratory and HEPA-filtered, negative-pressure rooms that prevent pathogens from escaping into all patient rooms.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 17 May 2026
While the early scenes radiate the relaxed ease of sisterhood escaping a harsh reality, the tone shifts to a darker register, both emotionally and visually.
—Jay Weissberg, Variety, 17 May 2026
Little Joe has spent 30 years in Boston, making headlines after escaping in 2003, running through the streets of the city, and injuring a little girl.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escaping
Verb
-
The two allegedly exchanged words before Radimak got out of the vehicle and assaulted both victims before fleeing the scene, police said.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
Radimak was accused of getting out of his car and assaulting her and a 35-year-old woman before fleeing.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
That’s the recipe of avoiding the darkness in him.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Kennedy then pins the snake’s head and grabs it by the mouth, avoiding any potential venomous bites.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Here is the sound of the settlers’ war chant, angry words that sent musket balls flying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
Liverpool’s first goal, for example, came when Manchester United winger Amad received the ball, and both holding midfielders Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo went flying forward in advance of him, which left Amad with no passing option.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
He was charged with evading arrest and smuggling of persons.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
Recent evaluations show leading models generating plausible ideas for pathogen modification, evading DNA synthesis screening or providing step-by-step guidance that could assist nonexperts in bioweapon pathways.—
Jordan Henry,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Escaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escaping. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
