Synonyms for retreat
rɪˈtritre·treat

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. retreatnoun

   Synonyms:
   defense, repulsion, resistance, submission, surrender

   Antonyms:
   aggression, assault, attack, attack, encroachment, incursion, infringement, intrusion, invasion, onset, onslaught, trespass

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.3 / 3 votes

1. retreatnoun

   Synonyms:
   retirement, departure, withdrawal, seclusion, solitude, privacy, asylum, shelter, refuge, recess

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retreatnoun

   (military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat

   "the disorderly retreat of French troops"

   Synonyms:
   retirement, hideaway

   Antonyms:
   procession, advance, onward motion, advancement, progression, progress, forward motion

2. retreatnoun

   a place of privacy; a place affording peace and quiet

   Synonyms:
   retirement, hideaway

   Antonyms:
   advancement, progress, progression, advance, onward motion, procession, forward motion

3. retreatnoun

   (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position

   Synonyms:
   retirement, hideaway

   Antonyms:
   advance, procession, progression, forward motion, advancement, onward motion, progress

4. retreatnoun

   (military) a bugle call signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset

   Synonyms:
   retirement, hideaway

   Antonyms:
   advancement, advance, progression, forward motion, procession, onward motion, progress

5. hideaway, retreatnoun

   an area where you can be alone

   Synonyms:
   retirement, hideout, den, hideaway

   Antonyms:
   forward motion, advance, progression, procession, advancement, onward motion, progress

6. retirement, retreatnoun

   withdrawal for prayer and study and meditation

   "the religious retreat is a form of vacation activity"

   Synonyms:
   retirement, hideaway

   Antonyms:
   progress, advance, forward motion, procession, progression, onward motion, advancement

7. retreatverb

   the act of withdrawing or going backward (especially to escape something hazardous or unpleasant)

   Synonyms:
   retirement, hideaway

   Antonyms:
   onward motion, procession, forward motion, progress, progression, advancement, advance

8. withdraw, retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move backverb

   pull back or move away or backward

   "The enemy withdrew"; "The limo pulled away from the curb"

   Synonyms:
   call in, swallow, sequester, lose, seclude, crawfish out, drop off, retire, crawfish, hit the hay, take, back away, strike out, back out, put out, take back, hit the sack, pull away, take out, fall back, unsay, turn in, crawl in, bow out, fall behind, draw back, recede, bed, sack out, recall, move back, retrograde, call back, go to sleep, sequestrate, draw, pull in one's horns, take away, go to bed, adjourn, disengage, withdraw, draw off, retract, pull back, kip down, remove

   Antonyms:
   procession, progress, advance, forward motion, onward motion, advancement, progression

9. retreatverb

   move away, as for privacy

   "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"

   Synonyms:
   pull away, crawfish, draw back, back out, back away, retrograde, recede, withdraw, pull in one's horns, move back, retire, crawfish out, pull back

   Antonyms:
   procession, advancement, advance, forward motion, onward motion, progression, progress

10. retrograde, retreatverb

    move back

    "The glacier retrogrades"

    Synonyms:
    draw back, retrogress, withdraw, back away, regress, retire, hash over, back out, retrograde, crawfish, move back, rehash, recede, pull away, pull in one's horns, pull back, crawfish out

    Antonyms:
    progression, progress, advance, onward motion, advancement, procession, forward motion

11. retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdrawverb

    make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity

    "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"

    Synonyms:
    recall, retract, call in, draw back, take away, sequester, swallow, withdraw, back out, back away, draw off, remove, seclude, take, retire, draw, take back, pull back, call back, retrograde, crawfish, move back, sequestrate, recede, bow out, pull away, take out, adjourn, pull in one's horns, unsay, crawfish out, disengage

    Antonyms:
    procession, progress, advancement, progression, advance, onward motion, forward motion

Matched Categories

1. • Area
   • Bugle Call
   • Military
   • Move
   • Recede
   • Signal
   • Withdrawal

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ssae

   to leave instantly

   Submitted by anonymous on November 24, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. retreatnoun

   Synonyms:
   departure, withdrawal

2. retreatnoun

   Synonyms:
   retirement, seclusion, privacy

3. retreatnoun

   Synonyms:
   asylum, refuge, shelter

4. retreatnoun

   Synonyms:
   haunt, resort, den

5. retreatverb

   Synonyms:
   withdraw, retire, give way

6. retreatverb

   Synonyms:
   recede, fall back, take the back track

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retreatnoun

   Synonyms:
   retirement, withdrawal, refuge, asylum, seclusion, privacy, fastness

2. retreatverb

   Synonyms:
   retire, withdraw, recede

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "retreat":

   retirement, withdrawal, retreats, retreated, retraite, pension, -retreat, retire, retiring, seminar, decline, climb-down, retraction, withdraw, retired, eases, reconsiders, backspace, regression

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How to use retreat in a sentence?

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, Mar. 4, 1933:

   The only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

2. Penn Township constable Clark Steele:

   I knew I was dying. There was no way to retreat.

3. Thomas Reiter:

   You have to be able to retreat, you work together as a crew, you have to think of the others.

4. Mitch McConnell:

   Precipitously withdrawing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell forces from Afghanistan is a grave mistake. It is a retreat in the face of an enemy that has not yet been vanquished, an abdication of American leadership, leaders in both parties, including me, offered criticism when the prior administration floated a concept of a reckless withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan. Those same voices in both parties should be equally concerned about the Joe Biden administration's announcement today.

5. Phillip Chesterfield:

   Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in advanced age, and if we do not plant it while young, it will give us no shade when we grow old.