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.

It’s intimidating to see how much you spend, but truly understanding your habits is the only way to build a smart financial plan that survives when things go south.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Pride believes it is unlikely that the increasingly debt-fueled tech boom would go south in a hurry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

But Postecoglou's return will have some fans pondering what might have been had he never received an offer to go south.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2024

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

From Science Magazine • Nov. 25, 2024

I never could go south with him because of the danger.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

go south

Example Sentences

Related Words