1
as in withdrawing
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
we retreated to the safety of the cellar at the first sign of the tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fleeing
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the untried soldiers retreated in humiliating disarray almost as soon as the enemy's onslaught began
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of retreating
Three top concerns include elections and political turmoil that threaten progress, companies retreating or staying silent on DEI and ESG goals, and the rise of sustainability reporting that’s (temporarily) taking up companies’ time.
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Andrew Winston, Harvard Business Review, 20 Dec. 2024
Deporting millions of immigrants and retreating from global trade by implementing slogans like America First will not achieve these goals.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
When the group began retreating from the tree, one of the hunters shot the bear, which fell onto another hunter who was standing about 10 feet from the bottom of the tree.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
Is women’s power in the world advancing or retreating?
—Maggie McGrath, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
As British forces and their allies crowded Gadsden’s Wharf on the city’s eastern peninsula, thousands of people enslaved by retreating Loyalists scrambled for space aboard a fleet of 130 ships.
—Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
However, Lee then sees the index retreating to 6,600 by the end of the year.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Regardless of views on climate change and global warming, the world's glaciers are increasingly retreating despite seasonal fluctuations and independent of natural glacial movement caused by factors like internal deformation.
—New Atlas, 10 Dec. 2024
Others played people retreating into themselves to escape pain or rejection.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024
Andrew Winston, Harvard Business Review, 20 Dec. 2024
Deporting millions of immigrants and retreating from global trade by implementing slogans like America First will not achieve these goals.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
When the group began retreating from the tree, one of the hunters shot the bear, which fell onto another hunter who was standing about 10 feet from the bottom of the tree.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
Is women’s power in the world advancing or retreating?
—Maggie McGrath, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
As British forces and their allies crowded Gadsden’s Wharf on the city’s eastern peninsula, thousands of people enslaved by retreating Loyalists scrambled for space aboard a fleet of 130 ships.
—Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
However, Lee then sees the index retreating to 6,600 by the end of the year.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Regardless of views on climate change and global warming, the world's glaciers are increasingly retreating despite seasonal fluctuations and independent of natural glacial movement caused by factors like internal deformation.
—New Atlas, 10 Dec. 2024
Others played people retreating into themselves to escape pain or rejection.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreating
Verb
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Diddy is expected to return to court on March 17 and will spend the holiday season behind bars after withdrawing his appeal for bail.Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
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But administration officials may have had broader reasons for officially withdrawing the draft regulations.Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sunday when the suspect approached the victim and intentionally set her on fire before fleeing the scene, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a briefing.John Bacon, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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In a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, the suspect can be seen allegedly fleeing from authorities by cutting through a gas station before continuing down a road.Nicole Acosta, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The film follows John in the 10 months leading up to his final touring show before retiring to spend time with his family and also tracks his rise in the early 1970s marked by monster hits and a spiral of sadness and loneliness.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
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After retiring from active competition, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 for his contributions to the company.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In the end, though, there is no escaping the fact that individuals and organizations alike need to raise their technological skill levels.Roger Trapp, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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That’s your idea of escaping a leper’s life?Lee Chang-dong, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Biden, or whoever is running the White House, should be ashamed.Rich Lowry, National Review, 24 Dec. 2024
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President Joe Biden, or whoever is running the White House, grotesquely abused the pardon power, yet again.Rich Lowry, National Review, 24 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near retreating
Cite this Entry
“Retreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreating. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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