retreat 1 of 2

1
as in withdrawal
an act of moving away especially from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable we made a strategic retreat when we realized that we were outnumbered

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

retreat

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb retreat contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of retreat are back, recede, and retract. While all these words mean "to move backward," retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached.

retreating soldiers

When is back a more appropriate choice than retreat?

The words back and retreat are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion.

backed off on the throttle

When would recede be a good substitute for retreat?

While the synonyms recede and retreat are close in meaning, recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space.

the flood waters gradually receded

When could retract be used to replace retreat?

The words retract and retreat can be used in similar contexts, but retract implies drawing back from an extended position.

a cat retracting its claws

Examples 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 retreat
Noun
Listening, with patience and restraint, to women speaking about their lives is the retreat’s specialty. Tom Crewe, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025 Yoon joined Biden and Japan’s then prime minister Fumio Kishida in 2023 for a landmark three-way summit at the Camp David presidential retreat that included a promise to step up intelligence cooperation on North Korea. Alena Botros, Fortune Asia, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
When Arnall pressed, Koskinen got halfway up the mast before stopping and retreating back down to the deck. David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025 Law enforcement officials retreated after trying for hours to work their way past Mr. Yoon’s supporters and running up against greater numbers of his personal security team. John Yoon, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for retreat 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreat
Noun
  • Through his work, Young helped evacuate Afghan citizens during the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Nevertheless, President Trump issued an executive order in 2017 to reverse Obama’s withdrawals and reopen areas to leasing.
    James Broughel, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The centers have become refuges for many whose lives have been upended by the unprecedented fires that continue to ravage the Los Angeles area.
    Angela Yang, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Fell says the project is especially interested in Woodstock’s place in the Catskill Mountains, a former summer refuge for New York’s Jewish vacationers and a cradle of Borscht Belt comedy.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Heck, not only comfortable, but possible without withdrawing a single penny from our savings.
    Michael Foster, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Duncan even contemplated mounting a third-party challenge to Trump as a No Labels candidate last year before withdrawing his name from consideration in March.
    Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • At the time, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials said Rivera appeared to have been the same man who’d fled after deputies tried to pull him over for having a fake license plate.
    Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The wildfire plowing through homes in California's Pacific Palisades was at Tiptoe's doorstep that Tuesday, forcing Doran and her extended family to flee with the 175-pound reptile in tow.
    Alina Hartounian, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • According to BlackRock, 40% of retirees still have over 80% of their savings after nearly two decades of retirement.
    Tanmay Gupta, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Paying back Stephen’s retirement account seems out of reach.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Many people went further out of the city, finding shelter in friends’ homes in beach cities away from the smoke or leaving for the desert or another part of the state altogether.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
  • The budget plan maintains $100 million to clear homeless encampments and get people into shelter but includes no new funding for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and prevention program, a popular grant that allows local governments to flexibly spend homelessness dollars in their communities.
    Lia Russell and, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After officially retiring from NASCAR in August 2023 following a concussion obtained in a Pocono crash in 2022, Busch is set to compete on March 7-8 at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
  • After retiring, Uecker started a broadcasting career and served as a play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers radio broasts beginning in 1971.
    Marc Berman, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Mash, a Russian Telegram channel thought to have links to Russian law enforcement, published footage purportedly showing a drone flying toward Engels overnight, which could not be independently verified.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Gonzalez Urrutia was leaving for Panama on Tuesday, and was planning to fly to the Dominican Republic on Thursday.
    Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near retreat

Cite this Entry

“Retreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreat. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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