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
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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
Examples Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug out
Verb
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As President Trump pushes aggressively to reshape the federal government, Democrats have retreated into a political crouch that reflects their powerlessness in Washington.—
Reid J. Epstein,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025 -
The controversy surrounding Costco's DEI initiatives comes as several major U.S. corporations have retreated from similar programs, fearing legal and reputational risks.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Melvin succeeded Hoda Kotb, who announced her plan to depart last year and had her last day on Friday.—
Alex Weprin,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Jan. 2025
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In this scenario, TikTok would die a slow death, as its technology degrades and its social fabric weakens with users departing for other platforms.—
Andrew R. Chow,
TIME,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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While Shapiro survived the attack, Alcala fled the scene but was later caught and arrested, pleading guilty to child molestation.—
Mollie Markowitz,
Fox News,
26 Jan. 2025
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Assad, whose family had ruled Syria since 1971, fled to Moscow.—
Warren P. Strobel,
arkansasonline.com,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Biden and first lady Jill Biden will exit the Capitol grounds by plane after the transfer of power and return to private life.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2025
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But rather confusingly, this fracas appears to have been staged so that duo can exit their top-secret careers as globe-trotting clandestine agents, disappearing together into civilian life.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Panthers fly out Monday afternoon to Southern California ahead of their four-game road trip that starts against the Anaheim Ducks at 10 p.m. Tuesday.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
20 Jan. 2025
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Foster, fascinated by machines—and perhaps most appreciative of other people when they’re seen from an L. S. Lowry-like distance—had taken to flying gliders, and then planes.—
Ian Parker,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Senate Republicans are moving ahead quickly on Hegseth’s nomination despite an affidavit from his former sister-in-law obtained by Senate Democrats that accuses him of having an alcohol problem and being abusive to his ex-wife Samantha Hegseth.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
22 Jan. 2025
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The snow is moving east Tuesday, and is affecting coastal areas all the way to the Florida Panhandle and southern Carolinas.—
Andrew Freedman,
Axios,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Georgia discovered that again this month when Damon Wilson, a rising junior and five-star recruit, bolted for the portal instead of competing to be Georgia’s starting edge linebacker.—
Seth Emerson,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
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The far-right parties that are part of Netanyahu’s coalition may bolt the government.—
Bret Stephens,
The Mercury News,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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He’s got quite a fastball and has some creativity to him.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
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Having a president who still receives royalty payments for a 1987 book titled The Art of the Deal naturally raises expectations that this is a leader who can, well, get a deal done.—
Chris Dobstaff,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near bug out
Cite this Entry
“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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