1
2
as in to race
to proceed or move quickly
the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fly
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bolt
The high-stakes move is aimed at stopping a half-dozen suburbs from bolting from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
—
Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
That moved a number of boaters to bolt to other harbors, including Waukegan, where one official said the Waukegan Port District marina was gaining slip holders with North Point in flux.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Nothing has to be glued or bolted together, and no complicated Ikea-style instructions take up your entire afternoon.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
The alarm system is operated in two places—from a device near the front door and another in the primary bedroom—by what are essentially iPads bolted to the wall.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bolt
Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
That moved a number of boaters to bolt to other harbors, including Waukegan, where one official said the Waukegan Port District marina was gaining slip holders with North Point in flux.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Nothing has to be glued or bolted together, and no complicated Ikea-style instructions take up your entire afternoon.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2026
The alarm system is operated in two places—from a device near the front door and another in the primary bedroom—by what are essentially iPads bolted to the wall.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
Verb
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Once, when the lights came on in the middle of the night, my sister and I both jumped into the shower at 1 or 2am.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Billie jumps from the second floor, injuring her foot, but Chee grabs her.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Soon everyone is racing around the infirmary.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
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Mathurin then raced down the floor only to miss a 25-footer as time expired.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In civil aerospace, for example, Rolls is benefiting as manufacturers Airbus and Boeing struggle to deliver new aircraft at the pace the market requires — obliging airlines to keep flying old planes (and their engines) for longer.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Comfortable headphones are essential for flying these days, but more so for long-haul flights.—
Kristy Alpert,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When the final scores came in, Liu didn’t exclaim in her own victory but leapt to embrace Ami Nakai of Japan, who was delighted to earn bronze.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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Nelson exclaimed on the Dodgers’ radio broadcast.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These particles can be inhaled and enter the lungs and bloodstream.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
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He was known for his close reading, and ability to inhale the entire oeuvres of his guests.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Amid a years-long decline in the bee population that has startled scientists, experts are now warning that a growing industry is hurting native habitats and potentially leading to further die-offs.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
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The project, which Steinberger has rebranded multiple times—evolving from Clawdbot to Moltbot and finally to OpenClaw—largely owing to politics—has expanded at a pace that startles even seasoned AI experts.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While many travelers speed past Lyon on the TGV en route to more bucolic points south, in recent years the friendly, walkable city has come into its own thanks to neighborhoods like Confluence, a starchitect's playground.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
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For bigger scrambles, a wider whisk will speed the process along without sacrificing quality.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, losses are mounting on the frontlines, and millions of people who have fled as refugees have now settled abroad.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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The driver who hit the woman fled the scene before police arrived.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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