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 most prepared billionaires have multiple passports, physical gold reserves in Swiss vaults, and escape routes that don’t rely on digital transactions. —Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Shelters have people coming and going all the time to get a meal, to find a place to sleep or to escape bad weather. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
Later, the Pacific Northwest punk scene and a necessary break from her mother open up a true escape route. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2025 With no ships or planes operating in the Antarctic winter, and the SA Agulhas II not due to make the 10-15-day voyage from South Africa until December, escape is impossible. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 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
  • Khalaf is also writing a TV series entitled The Syrian Doctor about a medic who arrested and tortured in 2012 for treating pro-democracy protestors and then flees to France with his three-year-old daughter.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Police said the two men who exchanged gunfire fled the scene.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of flee
Verb
  • Overtourism is to blame That year, a railway company also launched a probe against four popular YouTubers over their stunt to evade fares on public transport, according to local media.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The group has claimed dozens of strikes against Israel throughout the war in Gaza, some of which have managed to evade the country's state-of-the-art air defense systems.
    — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of evade
Noun
  • However, a March 27 report indicated that a flight carrying 60 Cuban migrants arrived in Havana from the United States.
    — Maykel Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In addition to serious safety concerns over the tower fight and the mid-air collision, two sources specifically mentioned the close call between a Delta Air Lines flight departing Reagan National and an Air Force jet at the end of March.
    — Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of flight
Noun
  • Prosecutors are seeking nearly five years in prison, plus a hefty fine, for two counts of tax evasion.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Prison term The prosecutor is seeking a prison term of four years and nine months for Ancelotti and a fine of 3.2 million euros (nearly $3.5 million) for two counts of tax evasion in 2014 and 2015.
    — Reuters, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of evasion
Verb
  • The 27 satellites will be the heaviest payload ever flown on an Atlas V and require ULA to launch it in its most-powerful configuration using five strap-on solid rocket boosters.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Comments With James Gunn's Superman flying to theaters faster than a speeding bullet, the filmmaker and his cast are starting to peel back the cape on what promises to be a fresh take on familiar characters.
    — Mike Miller, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of fly
Verb
  • In another legend, the monk was said to have cut off his eyelids to avoid falling asleep during his meditation, one explanation for the doll’s wide-eyed stare.
    — Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Facing the Marlins for the second time in a week, the Mets (7-3) avoided facing ace Sandy Alcantara, with the 2022 Cy Young Award winner having been added to the paternity list earlier in the day.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 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 16 Apr. 2025.

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