Synonyms of bolt

bolt

verb

1

as in to fly

to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fly
• flee
• retreat
• run
• escape
• break
• run off
• run away
• beat a retreat
• turn tail
• bug out
• beat it
• skedaddle
• make tracks
• hightail (it)
• get (away)
• get out
• skip (out)
• light out
• scram
• clear out
• abscond
• decamp
• elope
• make off
• lam
• skirr
• scat
• scarper
• mizzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• face
• confront
• dare
• beard
• defy
• remain
• stay
• dwell
• brave
• linger
• abide
• hang around
• stick around
• tarry

2

as in to jump

to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jump
• startle
• leap
• wince
• flinch
• cringe
• jerk
• recoil
• start
• twitch
• spring
• jolt
• spook
• bound
• react
• shrink
• quail
• blench
• respond
• squinch

3

as in to race

to proceed or move quickly

the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• race
• speed
• rush
• fly
• hurry
• drive
• travel
• zip
• scurry
• trot
• jump
• dart
• chase
• run
• blow
• scoot
• buzz
• dash
• barrel
• ram
• tear
• scuttle
• motor
• step
• shoot
• blast
• rip
• belt
• bowl
• jet
• rocket
• breeze
• zoom
• crack (on)
• jog
• bundle
• hare
• hurl
• blaze
• course
• rustle
• whirl
• pelt
• highball
• whisk
• hie
• hurtle
• career
• hump
• hustle
• bomb
• beat it
• hasten
• get a move on
• make tracks
• nip
• gallop
• bustle
• careen
• step on it
• cannonball
• shake a leg
• hotfoot (it)
• beetle
• flit
• streak
• sprint
• stampede
• scamper
• accelerate
• step out
• scud
• whiz
• arrow
• outrun
• catch up
• quicken
• scuffle
• overtake
• outpace
• outstrip
• beeline
• fast-forward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• drag
• crawl
• poke
• lag
• hang (around or out)
• poke
• linger
• tarry
• stroll
• lumber
• loiter
• dawdle
• saunter
• shuffle
• slow (down or up)
• amble
• decelerate
• plod
• dillydally
• dally

4

as in to exclaim

to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling

bolted out the cuss word without thinking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exclaim
• shout
• cry (out)
• roar
• ejaculate
• bellow
• blurt (out)
• blat
• leak
• interject
• holler
• howl
• whoop
• crow
• blunder
• hoot
• bleat
• yowl
• ooh
• aah

5

as in to inhale

to swallow or eat greedily

the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inhale
• devour
• wolf
• gulp
• scarf
• slop
• gobble
• raven
• cram
• scoff
• gorge
• glut
• ingurgitate
• gormandize
• pig out
• swill
• overeat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pick
• peck
• nibble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bolt

Explainability belongs in the same place, written into the design document from day one, next to the accuracy targets rather than bolted on before an audit. — Aritra Pal, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Mulch cool-season vegetables to delay bolting and keep them producing longer. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 29 Oct. 2026

Within five minutes, the curtain was flung back again and one of the medical students bolted out of the department in a panic. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

The companies that capture that value will redesign work around their most creative people, rather than bolting AI onto old processes and counting the empty chairs. — Jay Kaplan, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing bolt

• bolt from the blue
• bolt out of the blue