1
as in retreating
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 exiting
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 bugging out
Verb
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Three top concerns include elections and political turmoil that threaten progress, companies retreating or staying silent on DEI and ESG goals, and the rise of sustainability reporting that’s (temporarily) taking up companies’ time.—
Andrew Winston,
Harvard Business Review,
20 Dec. 2024 -
Deporting millions of immigrants and retreating from global trade by implementing slogans like America First will not achieve these goals.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes,
19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The last time the Southland saw similarly dry conditions was in early 2023, as the state was exiting a punishing, years-long drought thanks to an exceptional kickoff to the wet season.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Jan. 2025
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Adani Enterprises, Gautam Adani’s flagship company, is exiting from the joint venture with Wilmar to focus on its core infrastructure businesses and use the proceeds from the deal to expand its renewable energy, transport and logistics ventures.—
Jonathan Burgos,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In May, eight soldiers were sentenced to death for fleeing the battlefield, and in July, 25 soldiers were convicted of similar offenses.—
Jean-Yves Kamale and Wilson Mcmakin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Jan. 2025
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After a clerk refused to give her money, the woman attempted to break into the cash register before fleeing in a black SUV displaying out-of-state license plates, police said.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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At Bradley International Airport, 93,000 people have booked departing flights between last Wednesday and the day after Christmas, according to Brian Spyros, spokesman for the Connecticut Airport Authority.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Dec. 2024
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On that same weekend, news filtered out about many senior staffers departing, voluntarily or otherwise, from City Hall.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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There were also rumors about dysfunction running toward the organization, leading to the firing of Brown.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
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The move ends, or brings to the next phase, one of the longest-running and most public marital breakdowns in modern Hollywood history.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Their family was on the run, escaping the mortar fire that drove them from their home in Hari Fara, one of the last refuges for Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority.—
Adam Ferguson,
New York Times,
28 Dec. 2024
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The 1922 version's climax is more focused on Knock escaping and being hunted by the townsfolk because he's scapegoated for the plague.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA TODAY,
25 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Bugging out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging%20out. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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