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
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Crypto stocks — Stocks linked to the price of bitcoin fell after the cryptocurrency retreated around 3% to hover around the $80,000 level.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025 -
From rollbacks on reproductive rights in the U.S. to the dismantling of environmental protections and the amplification of xenophobia, governments are retreating from their responsibilities to protect vulnerable communities and future generations.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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However, the director departed the film just over a year later, and the project remains in limbo.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2025
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Shoring up the left and right tackle spots are of the utmost priority for L.A., and Conerly would fit a plug-and-play role for a team that, should Jackson depart, needs a Day-1 starter at left tackle.—
Zac Jackson,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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By the late 1970s, hundreds of thousands of refugees had fled the country by boat and overland, flooding into Hong Kong and Thailand.—
Thomas Doherty,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
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Context: Many of the displaced are descendants of refugees who were expelled or fled from their homes during the wars surrounding the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, a period known in Arabic as the Nakba.—
Natasha Frost,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The bullet had entered 65-year-old Sheryl Ferguson’s midsection, exited high on her back, passed through the chair behind her and lodged in the wall.—
Christopher Goffard,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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The westbound Loop 202 ramp to westbound I-10 will be open, but traffic must exit I-10 at Seventh Avenue.—
Lauren De Young,
The Arizona Republic,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The birds fly around the light, unable to extricate themselves.—
Anelise Chen,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Jack then tells Portia to not return to the White Lotus and wait for Tanya and to go to the airport and fly home instead.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Listen to this article After moving from Texas and transferring to Joliet Catholic, Maddux and Vince Tindal have had to adjust to a new level of competition.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
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However, researchers who study ancient Earth were previously uncertain whether Neoproterozoic glaciers moved at all, let alone enough to erode the ground beneath them and transfer minerals into the sea.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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After standing behind Hamilton for years, the first Wicked album bolted to No. 1 yet again on the Cast Albums ranking this past fall.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Four-star edge rusher Rico Walker, the top Maryland recruit in the 2023 cycle, bolted after one season and is at Auburn.—
Grace Raynor,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Joel Embiid is reportedly getting some opinions on what to do next with his knee, and Philly is using this opportunity to tank hard.—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
25 Feb. 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 6 Mar. 2025.
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