escape 1 of 2

verb

i-ˈskāp How to pronounce escape (audio)
Definition of escapenext
1
as in to flee
to get free from a dangerous or confining situation everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to evade
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery a judge who is very determined not to let criminals escape punishment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

escape

2 of 2

noun

1
as in flight
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement a daring prison escape

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evasion
the act or a means of getting or keeping away from something undesirable the reading of science fiction novels as an escape from boring reality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb escape contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of escape are avoid, elude, eschew, evade, and shun. While all these words mean "to get away or keep away from something," escape stresses the fact of getting away or being passed by not necessarily through effort or by conscious intent.

nothing escapes her sharp eyes

When could avoid be used to replace escape?

The words avoid and escape can be used in similar contexts, but avoid stresses forethought and caution in keeping clear of danger or difficulty.

try to avoid past errors

When is it sensible to use elude instead of escape?

The words elude and escape are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, elude implies a slippery or baffling quality in the person or thing that escapes.

what she sees in him eludes me

When is eschew a more appropriate choice than escape?

While in some cases nearly identical to escape, eschew implies an avoiding or abstaining from as unwise or distasteful.

a playwright who eschews melodrama

When can evade be used instead of escape?

In some situations, the words evade and escape are roughly equivalent. However, evade implies adroitness, ingenuity, or lack of scruple in escaping or avoiding.

evaded the question by changing the subject

When would shun be a good substitute for escape?

The meanings of shun and escape largely overlap; however, shun often implies an avoiding as a matter of habitual practice or policy and may imply repugnance or abhorrence.

you have shunned your responsibilities

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 escape
Verb
The good news is the Heat escaped the regular-season finale relatively healthy. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025 The theme of a late night escape from the city is the periodic imprint’s entry into choice cuts here from artists including Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef and Gene Ammonsd. —Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
The full lineup for the Billboard U.K. Live takeover at The Great Escape (May 14-16) in Brighton, England, has been announced. —Thomas Smith, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025 The thieves would then obtain the electronic key fob for the vehicle – critical to the resale value – and make their escape. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for escape
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escape
  1. flee
  2. evade
  3. flight
  4. evasion
  5. fly
  6. avoid
  7. break
  8. avoidance
Verb
  • Fellow dictatorships including Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran lined up behind Maduro while Gonzalez fled the country during the reign of state terror against dissidents that followed the election.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 20 Apr. 2025
  • April 19: McVeigh parks the truck outside the federal building and flees on foot to his getaway car.
    — Todd Pendleton, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of flee
Verb
  • Security scrutinized: Suspect eluded officers protecting Shapiro Balmer started fires while troopers searched Troopers were able to safely evacuate Shapiro's family and others in the mansion, but the fire raises the question of how Balmer was able to evade security.
    — John Bacon, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Most of these are fine goals, and some (such as finally terminating the university’s efforts to evade a Supreme Court–ordered end to its use of race discrimination in admissions) ought to be uncontroversial.
    — The Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of evade
Noun
  • Ahmed Walid ‘Now hear me out on Alexander-Arnold…’ Limited to just two wins this season, let this be another for Aaron Ramsdale, who made 105 saves in vain as Southampton got bounced from the top flight.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign pushed back at a lower court hearing, however, saying no deportation flights were scheduled for Friday or Saturday.
    — Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of flight
Noun
  • The federal agency on the frontlines of President Donald Trump’s tariffs war faces the enormous task of policing imports for tax evasion and applying the new tariff rates without holding up international trade.
    — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Former Madrid player Xabi Alonso is one of the few soccer figures to be acquitted of tax evasion charges.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of evasion
Verb
  • The aircraft flew north along the Hudson River and later turned south after reaching the George Washington Bridge, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Six women will fly to space on the Blue Origin Rocket: former television anchor and fiancée of Jeff Bezos Lauren Sánchez, CBS journalist Gayle King, singer Katy Perry, civil rights activist and scientist Amanda Nguyen, movie producer Kerianna Flynn, and aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of fly
Verb
  • Get to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Houston threw numbers behind the ball for most of the game to avoid getting hit by the deadly counterattacks and transitions KC has been known for.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of avoid
Noun
  • The new season involves a prison break and follows a criminal group, the Phantom Gang, undertaking more daring heists while being pursued by the cops.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Both sides took disappointing MLS breaks since their previous meeting.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of break
Noun
  • The vehicle must also earn a good or acceptable rating in the collision avoidance areas, like pedestrian front-crash prevention technology test for daytime and nighttime driving as well as its headlights on all trim levels.
    — Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
  • As far as speed, elephants moving at a slow speed show an even stronger avoidance of the difficult, more energetically-costly terrain.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of avoidance

Phrases Containing escape

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escapades
escape
escaped
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Cite this Entry

“Escape.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escape. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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