1
as in disappears
to cease to be visible
the fog fled with the arrival of the dawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in escapes
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation
a murderer who fled on foot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in retreats
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
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 flees
Searchlight is in development on Lottery, a Permut Presentations drama about a young man with Down syndrome who, after winning the lottery, flees his estranged mother and hits the road with a charming new friend who has ulterior motives of her own.
—
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Following a violent outburst from Robert, Nancy gets in her car and flees in the last scene of the episode.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
Mother Mary casts Hathaway as the title character, who was previously described as a Lady Gaga-meets-Swift hybrid who flees a tour and winds up seeking out an old friend and fashion designer (Michaela Coel) who helped shape her public persona.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Burrell flees to the Scion and drives.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Then the project flees to its secret laboratories, leaving the refugees of Domiz to continue the task of survival in some other way.
—Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Enraged, Misha's boyfriend barrels across the room and beats Charlie up, and Emma flees the banquet hall.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Before Harry can arrest him, Willy flees onto the balcony of his apartment.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
The stinger on the scene, where Katie flees and Greg mistakenly gets caught peeping on two girls smooching, is good for some giggles.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026
Following a violent outburst from Robert, Nancy gets in her car and flees in the last scene of the episode.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
Mother Mary casts Hathaway as the title character, who was previously described as a Lady Gaga-meets-Swift hybrid who flees a tour and winds up seeking out an old friend and fashion designer (Michaela Coel) who helped shape her public persona.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Burrell flees to the Scion and drives.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Then the project flees to its secret laboratories, leaving the refugees of Domiz to continue the task of survival in some other way.
—Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Enraged, Misha's boyfriend barrels across the room and beats Charlie up, and Emma flees the banquet hall.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Before Harry can arrest him, Willy flees onto the balcony of his apartment.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
The stinger on the scene, where Katie flees and Greg mistakenly gets caught peeping on two girls smooching, is good for some giggles.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flees
Verb
-
Unlike many spray sunscreens that feel sticky or heavy, this one truly dries down fast and disappears into the skin.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Romvari disappears Jeremy from shots in the film as Sasha’s fantasy dissolves.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Farm stays are far from new, but travelers are showing a resounding new interest in rural, back-to-the-land escapes.—
Jen Murphy,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Austin escapes the clinic through the ceiling and calls Eunice from a cab to the police station.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Garcia retreats, the video shows.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When members who are accused of serious ethical violations are allowed to retain the trappings of office, continue raising unlimited campaign funds, take votes on controversial issues, and act as if nothing’s changed, public trust vanishes.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
-
What happens between encounters — the daily negotiation between biology and environment — largely vanishes.—
Celina Yong,
STAT,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Vertical flies under an arrangement that has been accumulating evidence toward certification for three years.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The National Guard unit flies F-16 Fighting Falcon jet aircraft.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Come evening, the pizza oven glows or a local farm-to-table chef cooks as the light fades.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tyler Fever, who runs the YouTube channel Prop Department, took the already tiny Festiva and chopped it to pieces, ultimately creating a roughly shopping-cart-sized contraption that resembles something out of The Flintstones.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2026
-
For instance, Google built a system called OSS-Fuzz that runs fuzzers continuously, around the clock, on thousands of software projects.—
Evan Johnson,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If Leonard bolts, the Clippers will look to rebuild around young point guard Darius Garland, who came to the team in the Harden trade.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
-
With that in mind, here are a few free agent options who could fit the Yankees if Bellinger bolts.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flees. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
