1
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the ground soldiers bugged out just before the start of the aerial bombing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to depart
to leave a place often for another
the strange visitor bugged out without so much as saying a word
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug out
Verb
-
The Yankees’ second baseman then threw his helmet before retreating to the clubhouse.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
18 Apr. 2025 -
Instead of an opportunity to gawk and marvel, The Silent Twins presents these two sisters — who retreated inside themselves and spoke only to each other for years — with a sense of complete individuality and autonomy.—
Barry Levitt,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pereira knows that Wolves will lose players in the summer, with Cunha and Ait-Nouri two saleable assets likely to depart, while other more peripheral players will inevitably move on.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Boos rained down from the home crowd as Romano departed the mound.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Fellow dictatorships including Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, and Iran lined up behind Maduro while Gonzalez fled the country during the reign of state terror against dissidents that followed the election.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Apr. 2025
-
April 19: McVeigh parks the truck outside the federal building and flees on foot to his getaway car.—
Todd Pendleton,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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While stocks may continue their short-term celebration, the long-term sustainability of this rally is being undermined by something few are talking about: a major foreign holder of U.S. debt may be exiting the market in protest.—
Joel Shulman,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Wong remained in the game to finish the inning but soon exited.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Since Trump came to office on Jan. 20, his administration has flown more than 200 people from the U.S. to El Salvador to be imprisoned in CECOT.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
14 Apr. 2025
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Six women will fly to space on the Blue Origin Rocket: former television anchor and fiancée of Jeff Bezos Lauren Sánchez, CBS journalist Gayle King, singer Katy Perry, civil rights activist and scientist Amanda Nguyen, movie producer Kerianna Flynn, and aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Our reporters talk to each other and move around candidates from one category to another.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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The bill also included moving $1.1 million from the Constitutional Defense Fund into the Legislative Legal Defense Fund.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Consumers and businesses increasingly expect financial services to be built in, not bolted on.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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On Monday, both incoming freshmen recruits bolted as well: Carlsbad High School’s Jake Hall and Uriah Tenette from Prescott, Ariz.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the game, Joel intercedes by shoving the man, Seth, and telling him to get the hell out.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The candidates advanced to Sunday’s contest after getting the most votes in February’s first-round election.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
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