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
Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
But, lo and behold, the game survived the pitch clock without Kenesaw Mountain Landis bolting from his slumber, so now comes the ABS challenge to stir the pot even more.
—Kevin Sherrington
mar. 9, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Heat also stresses the plant and can cause bolting.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Last year had the Mikko Rantanen saga, Brad Marchand bolting Boston for the champs, Brock Nelson leaving Long Island, Seth Jones getting swapped for Spencer Knight.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
That was accomplished by bolting together several aluminum panels.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
But, lo and behold, the game survived the pitch clock without Kenesaw Mountain Landis bolting from his slumber, so now comes the ABS challenge to stir the pot even more.
—Kevin Sherrington
mar. 9, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Heat also stresses the plant and can cause bolting.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Last year had the Mikko Rantanen saga, Brad Marchand bolting Boston for the champs, Brock Nelson leaving Long Island, Seth Jones getting swapped for Spencer Knight.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolting
Verb
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At one point, Fetzer’s friend is seen jumping onto a curb with his bike, apparently to avoid the vehicle.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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There have been dueling proposals ever since, with some fighting to keep the Bears in Chicago proper, others fighting to help the stadium get built in Arlington Heights, and recently Northwest Indiana jumping into the fray, proposing sites for a new Bears stadium in Gary and Hammond.—
Marissa Perlman,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the pictures of Jane and Adam in her wallet in the safe triggered a wave of negative thoughts racing through my mind.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
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But Antonelli, who is racing in just his second F1 season, is now mounting a challenge of his own.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police said security footage from the store shows customers staring and retreating before 53-year-old Tammy Canut of North Huntingdon walks into the frame naked.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Assuming six weeks of supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the company predicts oil prices peaking at $115 per barrel in April and retreating by nearly a third to $80 by the end of the year.—
Alison Saldanha,
Dallas Morning News,
27 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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Humans are evolutionarily designed for hunting and gathering — not for lifting 50-pound boxes for eight hours straight or inhaling toxic dust in an industrial sanding booth.—
Vivek Ranadive,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
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Wearing a protective mask to avoid inhaling the dust, fill a hand-crank or push rotary spreader with pelletized lime.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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Over the past few of years, the surge in artificial intelligence fueled by apps, websites and other tech has created the need for the rapid expansion of massive data centers to handle the demand.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 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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Co-written, directed and produced by Jamila, Season 1 is set in late-1980s Canada, centring on two siblings struggling to adapt to a new life after fleeing Lebanon.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
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If convicted, Talley faces up to 7 years in prison on the fleeing charge, up to 4 years in prison on the property damage charge, and up to 6 months in jail on the stunt driving charge.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 24,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolting. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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