Thesaurus
retreat
verb
Synonyms and Antonyms of RETREAT
1
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>
Related Words flee, fly; flinch, recoil, shrink; chicken (out); bow out; back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down; detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away; abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate
Phrases give ground, give way, lose ground
Antonyms advance
2
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening <the untried soldiers retreated in humiliating disarray almost as soon as the enemy's onslaught began>
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