retreating
Moving away strategically
Retreating describes movement away from something—typically a withdrawal from danger, conflict, or an untenable position.
An army retreats from battle; a person retreats from an argument.
The word often implies acknowledging defeat or choosing self-preservation: retreating floodwaters, a retreating hairline.
Retreating can also suggest seeking refuge: retreating to the mountains for solitude.
Act of taking away
- pullbackWithdrawal or reduction
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
- evacuationRemoval from danger
regression · receding · backing away · stepping back · drawing back · pulling out · giving ground · falling back
Deliberately planned for advantage
- tacticalStrategically planned
- redeploymentRelocating resources or personnel
- flankingAt the sides of
- regroupingOrganizing anew after scattering
consolidation · repositioning · fortification · reconnaissance · entrenchment · counterattack · rearguard · orderly
Rapid escape from danger
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- abscondingDeparting secretly to evade
- boltingDeparting at speed
escaping · slipping away · vanishing · disappearing · dodging · ducking · evading · eluding
Place of safety
- havenShelter from danger
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- solitudeState of being alone
- seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
hermitage · ashram · cloister · monastery · respite · sabbatical · repose · quietude
Cease resistance, yield
- capitulationComplete yielding to demands
- routOverwhelming one-sided victory
- vanquishedDefeated completely
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
conquered · subdued · beaten · yielding · succumbing · collapse · demoralized · humiliated
Reversing to find alternatives
- reconsideringEvaluating something again
- rethinkingReconsidering a position
- reversingGoing in opposite direction
- retractingWithdrawing a statement
recanting · rescinding · walking back · backing down · pivoting · about-face · U-turn · revising
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- pullbackWithdrawal or reduction
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
evacuation · regression · receding · backing away · stepping back · drawing back · pulling out · giving ground · falling back · backpedaling
strategic
Deliberately planned for advantage
- tacticalStrategically planned
- redeploymentRelocating resources or personnel
- flankingAt the sides of
regrouping · consolidation · repositioning · fortification · reconnaissance · entrenchment · counterattack · rearguard · orderly · defensive
fleeing
Rapid escape from danger
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- abscondingDeparting secretly to evade
bolting · escaping · slipping away · vanishing · disappearing · dodging · ducking · evading · eluding · scattering
refuge
Place of safety
seclusion · hermitage · ashram · cloister · monastery · respite · sabbatical · repose · quietude · meditation
surrender
Cease resistance, yield
- capitulationComplete yielding to demands
- routOverwhelming one-sided victory
- vanquishedDefeated completely
overwhelmed · conquered · subdued · beaten · yielding · succumbing · collapse · demoralized · humiliated · fleeing
backtracking
Reversing to find alternatives
- reconsideringEvaluating something again
- rethinkingReconsidering a position
- reversingGoing in opposite direction
retracting · recanting · rescinding · walking back · backing down · pivoting · about-face · U-turn · revising · amending
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, timorousness, meekness
- conflict responsesavoidance, confrontation, compromise, accommodation, aggression
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- leavingdeparture, quit, walking away, withdrawing, bail
- motion statesmoving, stationary, in motion, at rest, still
retreatingadvancing
Moving in forward direction
approaching · coming · nearing · closing in · oncoming
retreatingadvancing
Moving in forward direction
attacking · charging · pushing forward · storming · assaulting
retreatingprogressing
Moving toward completion
advancing · growing · expanding · gaining ground · moving forward
retreat, retract, retreats, retreated, retraction, retractable, retreatment