1
as in withdrawals
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
as in refuges
something (as a building) that offers cover from the weather or protection from danger
her bedroom served as a retreat from the frequent arguing between her parents the abandoned cabin was a welcome retreat from the storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in withdraws
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flees
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retreats
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Dubious precautions Mounting interest in the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs has led to a rise in psychedelic retreats around the world.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
Funky little guesthouses, coastal hideouts, and boutique retreats in the Greek capital.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Choose between coastal escapes like Florida's Key West or mountain retreats like Bryson City, North Carolina, to soak up scenic Southern landscapes.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026
From the coastal cliffs of Costa Rica to open-air Indonesian retreats, luxury villa rentals span locales and design sensibilities—if something rustic and Tuscan is not for you, something modernist and Mexican just may be.
—Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026
The picturesque mountain retreats ranked high in the magazine’s 2026 South’s Best Awards, highlighting the region’s most popular restaurants, resorts, golf courses and more — as rated by readers.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026
According to By the Sea’s website, the company owns seven Panama City Beach beachfront hotels, two group retreats and two beachfront restaurants.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Some Singaporean businesses run offshore manufacturing operations in Batam, while others send staff to the island for meetings or corporate retreats, Tan said.
—Sydney Goh, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Garcia retreats, the video shows.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The visitors’ right-back, Lamare Bogarde, retreats a couple of steps to mark Cunha, creating more space for Fernandes down the United left.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
As tensions escalate into violence, Tina retreats into the basement, seeking refuge from the chaos above.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
The unconscious Moon retreats through your 12th House of Peace, trining take-charge Saturn in your 4th House of Care along the way.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
By Saturday night, geomagnetic activity weakens and retreats north, making aurora visibility in Iowa unlikely or very limited.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
After a painful breakup, college junior Blake Logan retreats to her family's lake house in Tahoe and meets Wyatt Graham.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Around the world, spas are often physically inaccessible, retreats off-limits by design, and practitioners limited in their ability and training to see disabled bodies as deserving of the restoration everyone so desperately needs.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
Mammoth bluffs followed by last-minute retreats only deepened perceptions of inconsistency, further eroding deterrence.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
Dubious precautions Mounting interest in the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs has led to a rise in psychedelic retreats around the world.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026
Funky little guesthouses, coastal hideouts, and boutique retreats in the Greek capital.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Choose between coastal escapes like Florida's Key West or mountain retreats like Bryson City, North Carolina, to soak up scenic Southern landscapes.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026
From the coastal cliffs of Costa Rica to open-air Indonesian retreats, luxury villa rentals span locales and design sensibilities—if something rustic and Tuscan is not for you, something modernist and Mexican just may be.
—Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026
The picturesque mountain retreats ranked high in the magazine’s 2026 South’s Best Awards, highlighting the region’s most popular restaurants, resorts, golf courses and more — as rated by readers.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026
According to By the Sea’s website, the company owns seven Panama City Beach beachfront hotels, two group retreats and two beachfront restaurants.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
Some Singaporean businesses run offshore manufacturing operations in Batam, while others send staff to the island for meetings or corporate retreats, Tan said.
—Sydney Goh, CNBC, 4 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
The visitors’ right-back, Lamare Bogarde, retreats a couple of steps to mark Cunha, creating more space for Fernandes down the United left.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026
As tensions escalate into violence, Tina retreats into the basement, seeking refuge from the chaos above.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
The unconscious Moon retreats through your 12th House of Peace, trining take-charge Saturn in your 4th House of Care along the way.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
By Saturday night, geomagnetic activity weakens and retreats north, making aurora visibility in Iowa unlikely or very limited.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
After a painful breakup, college junior Blake Logan retreats to her family's lake house in Tahoe and meets Wyatt Graham.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Around the world, spas are often physically inaccessible, retreats off-limits by design, and practitioners limited in their ability and training to see disabled bodies as deserving of the restoration everyone so desperately needs.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retreats
Noun
-
Most of the early withdrawals stemmed from unexpected emergencies and paying off looming debt.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Later that night, she was seen in surveillance footage making withdrawals from an ATM — and hasn't been heard from since.—
Aya Al-Hakim,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The park preserves not only the trees, but also one of the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cemeteries, in particular, may serve as critical refuges for pollinators at a time when many natural habitats are disappearing.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For example, if a Medicare Advantage plan withdraws from a market or leaves the Medicare program, its enrollees can qualify for a supplemental plan without being asked health questions or charged more for having preexisting conditions.—
Julie Appleby,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
University officials deactivated the group the same day they were notified, citing campus policies that allow suspension of student organizations when a parent or governing body withdraws recognition or when groups violate state law.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
Noun
-
University leaders expect as many as 150 job cuts through retirements, layoffs and eliminating vacancies.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Last week, there were reports in at least three other counties — Brevard, Leon and Palm Beach — that 2026 court elections were being canceled as resignations and retirements of circuit court judges, right before the qualifying period, created vacancies that mandate gubernatorial appointments.—
Norine Dworkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The new law will prevent the state from placing children in unlicensed homes like shelters, hotels or offices.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
When experienced and motivated staff can continue to work in the homeless response system, more people are placed into housing and spend less time in shelters.—
David Rich,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Especially if Stafford is injured this season or retires in the next year or two.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
If Rodgers takes the off ramp on playing and retires in the next couple of days, the Steelers might want a player such as Simpson as a possible addition to their quarterback room.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 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
Cite this Entry
“Retreats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retreats. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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