skedaddle

verb

ski-ˈda-dᵊl How to pronounce skedaddle (audio)
Definition of skedaddlenext
as in to flee
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening we skedaddled as soon as we saw the snake entering our campsite

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 skedaddle Usually when an actor in a major role skedaddles a series in mid-stream — because of firings, feuds, contract fights, health crises or creative flameouts — the show finds a way to go on. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2026 There’s good reason to skedaddle too since more than rest and mending are going on inside and out. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026 Many politicians with ambitions for higher office arrive at events, are introduced, wave, shake a few hands and skedaddled to the next block on the schedule. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025 But not on this episode, because Abby and the gang were already skedaddling back to Seattle. — Tom Gliatto, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025 The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily, a major turning point in World War II. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily and marking a major turning point in World War II. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025 The sun's peeping out, and the budding journalists skedaddle outside, where their friends are just arriving. — Lauren Migaki, NPR, 22 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skedaddle
  1. flee
  2. retreat
  3. fly
  4. bolt
  5. run
  6. escape
Verb
  • The video shows the state trooper performing a tactical vehicle intervention, also known as a PIT maneuver, on a fleeing Infiniti hatchback.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Diana, love interest Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul died in 1997 in Paris due to injuries from a car crash, after trying to flee paparazzi.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of flee
Verb
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The player reported that the man had opened a knife and moved toward him before retreating into his room.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • At his best, Fries flies off the ball with force and aggression.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Crews were not able to fly over the fire for several days due to smoke and visibility concerns, but were able to map it Saturday at 24,839 acres, Beyer said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal.
    — Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Next, workers will install new cables, bolted into the five main branches, to stabilize the tree before removing the old supports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of bolt
Verb
  • Stone ran for three touchdowns, including an 85-yarder late in the first half.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Sebold’s was the third such attack in Thornden Park, which runs alongside the campus, in about seven months.
    — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of run
Verb
  • Nuclear Children follows 18-year-old Isla Sparrow who, after the death of her father in a submarine accident, hopes to escape her grieving family and flee to university.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Messick escaped further damage by striking out Jose Siri and getting Campero to pop out.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of escape

Browse Nearby Words

skating
skedaddle
skedaddled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skedaddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skedaddle. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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