Synonyms of flee

flee

verb

ˈflē 

1

as in to disappear

to cease to be visible

the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disappear
• vanish
• fade
• fly
• melt
• evaporate
• dissolve
• dissipate
• sink
• dematerialize
• drop out of sight
• disperse
• evanesce
• die (away or down or out)
• dry up
• blur
• blank (out)
• dim
• clear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appear
• arrive
• emerge
• materialize
• come out
• issue
• show up
• break out
• loom

2

as in to escape

to get free from a dangerous or confining situation

a murderer who fled on foot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• escape
• fly
• leave
• abscond
• get out
• move
• break free
• run away
• run off
• avoid
• evade
• clear out
• go
• break out (of)
• lose
• exit
• lam
• shun
• elude
• depart
• rescue
• elope
• pull out
• quit
• walk out
• liberate
• extricate
• decamp
• shove (off)
• take off
• sally (forth)
• emancipate
• disentangle
• redeem
• release
• loose
• free
• loosen
• spring
• unbind
• enfranchise
• bring off
• manumit
• unchain
• uncage
• unfetter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remain
• stay
• dwell
• linger
• abide
• return
• hang around
• come back
• stick around
• tarry

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

• retreat
• fly
• escape
• bolt
• run
• break
• skedaddle
• run off
• run away
• beat a retreat
• hightail (it)
• beat it
• turn tail
• bug out
• make tracks
• abscond
• get (away)
• decamp
• elope
• get out
• skip (out)
• scram
• lam
• make off
• clear out
• light out
• scarper
• scat
• skirr
• mizzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confront
• dare
• face
• defy
• beard
• remain
• stay
• brave
• dwell
• linger
• abide
• hang around
• stick around
• tarry

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flee

Many point out the irony that ahead of Passover, Israelis are fleeing the country through the land border crossing with Egypt to the Sinai desert, while the holiday commemorates the story of ancient Israelites leaving Egypt via Sinai to Israel. —ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026

Heifler allegedly planned to flee the country after carrying out the attack and intended to wear gloves to avoid leaving DNA evidence, according to the complaint. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026

Officers discovered that Herrera had fled to El Salvador days prior to the discovery of Morfin-Rojas’ body. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee march 29, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2026

The country’s most vocal activists fled the island after Cuba’s repression of the nationwide protest on July 11, 2021 — the ones in which Duannis Taboada marched. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026