bolt

verb

Definition of boltnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to exclaim
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling bolted out the cuss word without thinking

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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.
Recent Examples of bolt On the very next play, Walker bolted 22 yards for a touchdown and 30-19 lead. — Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026 Companies often try to bolt AI onto a workflow that was designed for people, and that rarely works. — Alex Nazha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 With third base open, Crews and Abrams bolted, and both slid in safely. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026 The deer that spreads the hairs on its tail is on alert but not quite ready to bolt. — Tom Carpenter, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
  1. fly
  2. jump
  3. race
  4. exclaim
  5. inhale
  6. flee
  7. startle
  8. speed
Verb
  • The film opens on a beach, with Selvi and her friends flying kites, before moving into domestic interiors where her world narrows.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The hurricane sent chairs flying and destroyed the restaurant’s canopy.
    — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • But while most young people are struggling to land their first opportunity, some have jumped the line by building their own small businesses and startups—and young founders are now ramping up hiring even as companies across industries slow theirs.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Sustained Spanish Boom Spanish premieres at home jumped a record 83% between 2021-2025, from 40 to 73 local fiction premieres.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of jump
Verb
  • Domestic chipmakers are racing to catch up, but their tech still lags the US – and supplies of their cutting-edge models are tight.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Across Formula 1, tech giants are expanding their partnerships with racing teams as AI finds its way into everything from race strategy to fan engagement.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of race
Verb
  • Caitlin Clark exclaimed, pretty much the millisecond her coach finished.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Eloise Ibarra, 42, exclaimed as Pulido walked through the crowd at a high school football game.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of exclaim
Verb
  • And so, for the brand, only the most breathable, and healthily inhaled, natural materials will suffice.
    — Jaklin Romine Oct. 15, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Those products are made with tiny particles that are more likely to be inhaled or absorbed by marine organisms.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of inhale
Verb
  • Bassam Abed said at least 10 residences housing some 300 families were reduced to rubble, and families were not given enough time to flee.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Other passengers included André Breton, Victor Serge, and Claude Lévi-Strauss—all fleeing the inferno.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of flee
Verb
  • The parents admit to some corporal punishment, but of a mild sort—the kind that might startle a child but which wouldn’t do bodily harm.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026
  • However, startled by the activation of the security system, the suspect fled the scene without stealing any loot.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of startle
Verb
  • Ambrossi can’t sit still, and has left his hotel to speed-walk through the city, speaking rapidly and barely glancing at his phone screen.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Supporters say Prop 45 will speed up environmental review for essential housing, transportation, water, health, education and other projects, cutting costly delays and passing the savings on to consumers.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of speed

Phrases Containing bolt

Browse Nearby Words

bolsters
bolt
bolted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bolt

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bolt

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All