Definitions

go south

VERB

abscond

Synonyms

STRONG

bolt break decamp disappear escape fade flee get hightail jump leave quit scram skedaddle slip slip away split vamoose vanish

WEAK

beat it clear out cut and run dog it duck out fly the coop go AWOL make a break make off make scarce pull out run off skip out sneak away steal away take off

Antonyms

STRONG

appear arrive come continue face join remain stay strengthen wait

WEAK

abide endure give up stop yield

VERB

disappear

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon depart die die out dissipate dissolve escape evaporate expire fade flee fly go leave melt perish recede retire retreat sink wane withdraw

STRONG

abscond clear decamp dematerialize disperse ebb end evanesce exit pass vacate vamoose

WEAK

be done for be gone be lost be no more be swallowed up cease to exist come to naught drop out of sight end gradually evanish fade away leave no trace melt away pass away take flight

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance appear be born begin coagulate come continue enter face fight forge grow improve increase keep meet remain rise solidify stay strengthen wait

WEAK

arrive come in

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Despite those efforts, Israeli officials assess that hundreds of elite Hezbollah fighters were able to go south of the Litani River and join up with other Hezbollah units there after the war with Iran began.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

So how many of these borderline investments would have to go south before the fund’s net asset value gets whacked?

From MarketWatch • Nov. 7, 2025

When things go south, they get drawn in deeper — Cane, reluctantly, and Harlan, almost enthusiastically.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2025

“He could be a superb commissioner, or this could go south really fast.”

From Science Magazine • Nov. 25, 2024

She wasn’t sure of her direction, except that she wanted to go south, away from the river.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

go south

Example Sentences

Related Words