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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of retreating
Record slip Stocks moved lower Thursday, retreating from the records the major indexes hit in the previous trading session.
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Michele Luhn, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
In Iceland, glaciers cover about 10 percent of the country's area but are rapidly retreating.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
This act, like burning one’s ships, speaks to the irreversible choice to move forward without the option of retreating, of charting a new course and never going back, and the act of giving oneself to a cause or belief.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
The Spanish expression quemar las naves (burn the ships) means to eliminate the possibility of retreating before a problem.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said.
—Sarah El Deeb The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Central to the story is the talks between the retreating British Empire and various religious groups with differing views of India’s future.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2024
Now, in the third season of this outstanding series, Sam finally settles into her tiny community and tries to navigate change without retreating into old habits of isolation and self-loathing.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Oct. 2024
As sociopolitical agendas and pressures continue to mount, companies like Ford Motor Company and Brown-Forman are retreating from DEI commitments made in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
—Cerys Goodall, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Michele Luhn, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
In Iceland, glaciers cover about 10 percent of the country's area but are rapidly retreating.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
This act, like burning one’s ships, speaks to the irreversible choice to move forward without the option of retreating, of charting a new course and never going back, and the act of giving oneself to a cause or belief.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
The Spanish expression quemar las naves (burn the ships) means to eliminate the possibility of retreating before a problem.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
However, the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began retreating from their positions, the officials said.
—Sarah El Deeb The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Central to the story is the talks between the retreating British Empire and various religious groups with differing views of India’s future.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2024
Now, in the third season of this outstanding series, Sam finally settles into her tiny community and tries to navigate change without retreating into old habits of isolation and self-loathing.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Oct. 2024
As sociopolitical agendas and pressures continue to mount, companies like Ford Motor Company and Brown-Forman are retreating from DEI commitments made in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
—Cerys Goodall, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreating
Verb
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As the name states, the rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio every year in retirement in order to avoid running out of money.Michael Foster, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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Within minutes, security forces began withdrawing from the area.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Since fighting broke out in April 2023, more than one million Sudanese refugees have crossed into Egypt, fleeing the war and dire humanitarian crisis.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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As the victims lay injured, a black GMC pickup truck sped through the area, running over Hood and another person before crashing into the banquet hall and fleeing.Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Elsewhere in Southern California, Gil Cisneros won the congressional seat held by Grace Napolitano, a fellow Democrat who is retiring.Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Chris Evans will return to the Marvel universe in an upcoming film, years after retiring from his role as Captain America.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Or, just place carpets to create a barrier between cold floors and the room and prevent heat from escaping through those tiny gaps.Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
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The sea may provide an end run for the West in escaping China’s monopolization of terrestrial mining.Greg Autry, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Join 34 others in the comments View Comments And that category has been running stubbornly higher than inflation for more than two years, BLS data shows.Alicia Wallace, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
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Adidas also remains embroiled in a long-running multinational trademark battle with Thom Browne regarding the use of stripes.Lily Templeton, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near retreating
Cite this Entry
“Retreating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreating. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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