as in rushing
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1
as in jumping
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)
I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in racing
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 retreating
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in exclaiming
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling
bolted out the cuss word without thinking
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in inhaling
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
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Recent Examples of bolting
Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
There’s been a small but steady stream of talk on social media about the possibility of the Royals bolting for another city.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
Many tasks are still completed by hand, from sewing the dashboard leather to bolting in suspension components, but automated electric transports are used to deliver parts and move vehicles between workstations.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 28 Jan. 2026
The five-star freshman had committed to USC with every intention of bolting for the NBA after one season, only for the setbacks of the past year to put his likely lottery status in doubt.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Some organizations are bolting AI onto legacy workflows and gaining marginal productivity.
—Mohamad Ali, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
The handshake after the wild-card game was even shorter than the first, as Johnson ran up to LaFleur and shook his hand before bolting off.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The police footage shows the man turning and bolting away from officers before quickly tripping over his own feet just a few steps past his car.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
There’s been a small but steady stream of talk on social media about the possibility of the Royals bolting for another city.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
Many tasks are still completed by hand, from sewing the dashboard leather to bolting in suspension components, but automated electric transports are used to deliver parts and move vehicles between workstations.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 28 Jan. 2026
The five-star freshman had committed to USC with every intention of bolting for the NBA after one season, only for the setbacks of the past year to put his likely lottery status in doubt.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Some organizations are bolting AI onto legacy workflows and gaining marginal productivity.
—Mohamad Ali, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
The handshake after the wild-card game was even shorter than the first, as Johnson ran up to LaFleur and shook his hand before bolting off.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
The police footage shows the man turning and bolting away from officers before quickly tripping over his own feet just a few steps past his car.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolting
Verb
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Word spread quickly, and one of us—Lindsay Baach Friedmann—immediately swung into action, jumping into her car to make the three-hour drive up to Jackson.—
Lindsay Baach Friedmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Additionally, shares have had three amazing years in a row, jumping 36% in both 2025 and 2024, and 41% in 2023.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dual moguls sees two skiers racing side by side down the course featuring two jumps and fields of bumps, known as moguls.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
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Truthfully, racing in the rain was entertaining.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement The ability to sit face to face, to listen as much as to argue, to disagree without retreating into caricature is a prerequisite for meaningful action.—
Alan H.H. Fleischmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Defeat at Fort Necessity Washington then made the fateful decision to dig in and call for reinforcements instead of retreating in the face of inevitable French retaliation.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Residovic is heard exclaiming in the footage.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Clarkson can be heard exclaiming in a video shared online.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Your daughter breathes that same air, inhaling the virus directly into her respiratory tract.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
These new players were inhaling possibilities.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
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This transition requires sophisticated sensors and rapid data processing.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead of hurrying to break up tents and scatter RVs, Lee and Oakland’s interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald want city workers to focus on minimizing trash and human waste around encampments.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
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Meza Gonzalez and David Christian, one of her attorneys, refused to answer questions from reporters about the plea agreement, hurrying down a flight of stairs at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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He has been charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, and felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, the sheriff’s office said.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
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That evidence came in the form of a video recorded by the Venezuelan national's wife, who said her husband was shot in front of their family while fleeing ICE officers on foot.—
Stephen Swanson,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolting. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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