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
-
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
-
Now, the beloved brand is entering a new phase: departing from the L’Oréal umbrella to be independently-owned once again.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The United Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Waco Regional Airport in Waco, Texas, due to the turbulence after departing from Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri on Sunday, March 2, local outlets 25 News and Springfield News-Leader reported.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In May 2023, while awaiting trial in a Virginia jail, Marin-Sotelo and another inmate managed to escape, with Marin-Sotelo fleeing to Mexico.—
Max Saltman,
CNN,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The sheriff’s office said a man fled the scene, but was taken into custody a short time later with assistance from BSO’s K-9, Aviation and T.I.T.A.N. (Threat Intervention Tactics Analytics Network) units.—
Rod Stafford Hagwood,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Security camera footage showed the two suspects entering the apartment building at about 4:24 p.m. Monday and going to the door of the apartment, then exiting from a rear staircase at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to the incident report.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Stansbury recorded a video shared on Instagram while exiting the Capitol elaborating on the succinct message of her sign.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The B-52s, deployed from Royal Air Force Base Fairford in the United Kingdom, flew over six U.S.-aligned countries in the region, accompanied by a fighter escort, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The Southwest plane flew over the private jet at an uncorrected pressure altitude of 900 feet, which was approximately 250 feet above ground after adjusting for pressure and elevation, FlightRadar24 said.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
This means moving between vertical levels of a map or jumping from one side of an area to the other can be done in one smooth fluid motion, creating a high-octane competitive environment.—
Echo Apsey,
Rolling Stone,
26 Feb. 2025
-
On one of those days, Sue began asking Ken to move her to a care home.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The show’s participants will open for Urban, and the audience at each venue can determine which musicians get to stay on the tour.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Barlow earned a bachelor's degree in genetics from the University of California, Berkeley, before getting a master's from Cornell University, according to her website.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
25 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share