bolt

1
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

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2
3
4
as in to exclaim
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling bolted out the cuss word without thinking

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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

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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 Suddenly the big buck came crashing up from the forest floor and bolted toward the right. Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025 Toronto’s fielding fails them Addison Barger stared at the sky, bolting to his right as Austin Wells’ fly ball fell. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 The concept draws inspiration from traditional trucking, where bolt-on fairings and side skirts have long been used to cut fuel burn. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2025 Cool-season planting keeps parsley from bolting, or going to seed quickly. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolt
Verb
  • Melissa rapidly intensified, jumping from a 70 mph tropical storm on Saturday morning to a 140 mph Category 4 hurricane Sunday morning.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Net income jumped, coming in at $35 billion, a 33% increase.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, the company announced capital investments would increase by $10 billion this year, a common theme as tech companies race to scale AI infrastructure.
    Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The trial would address 23XI and Front Row’s contention that NASCAR uses monopoly power to suppress competition in its procurement of services provided by racing teams.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Palace’s super-strength is low crosses provided by flying wing-backs, when they can be released, running into space on the edge of the box.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The fabrics utilize the same aerodynamic principles as a golf ball, whose dimpled surface causes a ball to fly further by using turbulence to reduce drag.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hostin exclaimed after the video ended.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Noone exclaimed, with put-on familiarity.
    Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Health and Safety Concerns Proper ventilation is vital when using bleach because bleach fumes can be harmful if inhaled.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Competitive freediving events demand that participants inhale nothing but normal air prior to a dive.
    Sean Williams, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Many labs today are using AI to speed up the drug discovery process, and make more bets.
    Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Aligning with the global trend To help speed up deployment and reduce upfront capital risk for its customers, Honeywell offers the Biocrude Upgrading technology as prefabricated modular plants.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Three were sprawling refugee camps near el-Fasher that have emptied as RSF troops advanced, with most people fleeing into el-Fasher or nearby towns.
    NPR, NPR, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The film, written by Barbosa alongside Werner Salles, is set in 1695 and sees a family of slaves organize a rebellion to flee in search of the utopian Quilombo dos Palmares following a call from the spiritual helm.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Those who predicted a doomed future for all of humanity called us addicts and criminals, leeches and slime (and way worse things) because we were detested, shouted at, dragged by our arms across bedrooms and public sporting events.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • In April, the couple navigated another mid-episode interruption — this time from an audience member who shouted out during an interview with actor Christopher Meloni.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolt. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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