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
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The long-shot basket sent players from the Clippers’ bench — and some fans in the stands, too — bolting onto the court in a wild celebration.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Second-year plants are vulnerable to bolting and quickly go to flower in fluctuating and extreme cold or warm temperatures.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
Dallas Area Rapid Transit has approved a six-year funding compromise designed to keep its 13 member cities from bolting the system, offering to return a portion of its sales tax revenue in exchange for stability.
—Giles Hudson, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
Additionally, peppers can offer a bit of afternoon shade to your lettuce plants, slowing down bolting and prolonging harvest.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Even after bolting, your parsley can still serve a purpose in the garden.
—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
Verb
Choose varieties that can grow in hotter weather without bolting (flowering).
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The long-shot basket sent players from the Clippers’ bench — and some fans in the stands, too — bolting onto the court in a wild celebration.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Second-year plants are vulnerable to bolting and quickly go to flower in fluctuating and extreme cold or warm temperatures.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
Dallas Area Rapid Transit has approved a six-year funding compromise designed to keep its 13 member cities from bolting the system, offering to return a portion of its sales tax revenue in exchange for stability.
—Giles Hudson, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
Additionally, peppers can offer a bit of afternoon shade to your lettuce plants, slowing down bolting and prolonging harvest.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Feb. 2026
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
Even after bolting, your parsley can still serve a purpose in the garden.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolting
Verb
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When disagreements arise, acknowledge everyone’s different points of view before jumping to defend your ideas.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The former product instructor from the San Francisco Bay Area has ridden the tech wave throughout his career, easily jumping from Verizon to Fitbit to Workday.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The other six warned the city was racing toward a costly and uncertain exit strategy.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Her propulsive new book, Driven, traces a life shaped by that belief—from racing her brother on a 50cc bike in Oban, Scotland, at six, to entering the Kart World Championship at 14 as the only girl in the paddock.—
Lale Arikoglu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the third quarter, after taking a tumble, Green reached out and grabbed the ankle of a retreating Jabari Smith Jr.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
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However, the ice sheet has been retreating from the grounding line in the most vulnerable regions at a rate of more than 170 square miles per year.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 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,
10 Mar. 2026
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At the edges of the channel, near the walls, Rout and Lim’s team saw rapid fluctuations of molecules — those were the wiggly nucleoporins.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Mar. 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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Highways were jammed overnight and into Monday with people fleeing after what was Israel's deadliest barrage on Lebanon in more than a year, striking hours after Hezbollah fired missiles across the border for the first time in more than a year.—
FADI TAWIL,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
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During the chase, a pedestrian ran into the street in an apparent attempt to engage the driver and was struck by the fleeing vehicle, police said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolting. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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