ESCAPES Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

escapes 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of escape

as in flees

to get free from a dangerous or confining situation everyone managed to escape from the burning building in time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in evades

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

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escapes

2 of 2

noun

plural of escape

as in breaks

the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement a daring prison escape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 escapes

Verb

According to the report, most of the cancer risk - 74% - comes from a single pollutant, benzo[a]pyrene, that escapes through leaks in pipe fittings and storage tanks. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 From beachfront retreats in Miami to remote escapes off the coast of Newfoundland, these are the best of the best hotels across the US and Canada. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026 After serving years in prison, Miller escapes and seeks revenge on Reynolds and the other people who framed him. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 After the dog is adopted out, Héctor escapes and sets out on a quest to find and reclaim it. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026 For years, Coventry had lived a charmed life in the top flight, pulling off a few dramatic escapes either side of a glorious FA Cup success in 1987. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 This sleek wrap dress and skort is great for hot-weather escapes. — Mariette Williams, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026 Facilities must notify the state of significant incidents — including serious injuries to youth, escapes or restraint use — within 24 hours. — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026 When the Delgado family escapes their house, they are surrounded by other, far more hostile creatures. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

Summary The Maldives, long known for luxury escapes, is experiencing a significant shift in traveler expectations. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 No dragons, of course, but plenty of political conniving, clashing swords and last-minute escapes. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 This month’s lineup spans everything from high-stakes thrillers to romantic escapes that linger long after the final page. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 Patrick Obert, who co-founded Stirred Travel in 2016, seeks out extraordinary European locations for the company’s unique culinary escapes, matching acclaimed chefs with exceptional regional food, in a relaxed house-party atmosphere. — Xandie Nutting, TheWeek, 28 July 2026 Experts say younger travelers are choosing unique experiences, affordable escapes, and places with fewer crowds. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026 For traffickers and offenders who rely on quick escapes along our state’s busy roadways, LPRs strip away their advantage. — Charles "chuck" Broadway, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 From adults-only pools to tranquil spas, these luxury resorts offer relaxing escapes tailored to travelers over 50. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 7 July 2026 This season’s new fiction and nonfiction illuminate our manic world while offering riveting escapes. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for escapes

Verb

At the end of the 2001 film, Rodriguez’s Letty flees the country.

— Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Holden eagerly rebels against Pencey Prep, gets the boot, and flees to New York City, a place with its own vices and hazards, but without the sort of propaganda and pretense that obscure the school’s dark underside.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of flees

Verb

This skin-crawling faux-documentary concerns a prolific New York serial killer who evades capture despite recording his brazen crimes.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
However, Noussair Mazraoui evades Casemiro’s challenge far too easily before Bilal El Khannouss releases Achraf Hakimi on the far side.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of evades

Verb

Delta Air Lines flies direct between Atlanta and Johannesburg and is expected to launch service between Atlanta and Cape Town later this year.

— Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
Hig flies old Cessna planes into Denver for supplies and makes occasional deliveries to a local Mennonite community led by Aaron (Benedict Wong).

— Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of flies

Verb

And the lichen also avoids non-bearing rocks like granite, sandstone, and quartzite, where its occurrence dropped to less than one percent.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026
For the record, my hunch is Notre Dame avoids the flat-tire game that’s dogged Freeman.

— Pete Sampson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of avoids

Noun

On Wednesday, Steel suggested the text had nothing to do with the flights booked using one of his management company’s credit cards for the men charged as his co-defendants in the government’s first indictment.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
On January 23rd, many of them temporarily disrupted the airport to protest deportation flights; about a hundred were arrested.

— Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of flights

Noun

Oklahoma City went 8-0 against LeBron James and the Lakers this season — and the defending champs are also 8-0 in these playoffs after back-to-back routs of Phoenix and Los Angeles.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 May 2026
High school football in La Jolla this week was a tale of two routs — one on the positive side and the other not so much.

— La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025

Definition of routs

Noun

Multiple water rescues and road closures were reported near Columbus, Ohio, according to CNN affiliate WBNS.

— Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
The department played a key role during Covid, ran the main bailout program of the global financial crisis, and took point on multiple emerging market rescues in the 1990s.

— Christopher Anstey, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rescues

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escapers

escapes

escaping

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Style

“Escapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escapes. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of escapes

verb

noun

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