as in rushing
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Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of 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
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
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolting
Verb
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It must be understood that historical references to this team are like prompts on an online dating profile — not under any circumstances to be taken seriously, but a fun jumping off point.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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In the years before, international migration had been swiftly increasing, jumping from about 43,000 in 2021 to more than 350,000 in 2024.—
William Tong,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That’s because Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old legend racing with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, violently crashed just 13 seconds into her race, losing control on the first jump as her pole hit a gate, turning sideways in the air and slamming to the ground.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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In Prince George’s County, a woman driving well above the legal alcohol limit and racing another car at speeds topping 100 miles per hour crashed into another car, killing three young men.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dinner usually means a lively table at Sweet Basil or Mountain Standard before retreating back to the hotel for a nightcap and a hot tub soak.—
Bailey Berg,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
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Software stocks led the latest downdraft, with the S & P 500 software index sliding 5% Thursday and retreating for a seventh straight day, helping push the entire S & P 500 lower for a third day.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Clarkson can be heard exclaiming in a video shared online.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These new players were inhaling possibilities.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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They are sought out by patients who want to stop inhaling smoke, who can’t tolerate withdrawal, or who have failed repeatedly with abstinence-only approaches.—
Timothy Vermillion,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Most structural components were 3D-printed in Polylactic Acid (PLA), enabling fast iteration and part replacement throughout the build, highlighting the flexibility of rapid prototyping in robotics development.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
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Retailers claim the digital tags improve efficiency by allowing for rapid, store-wide price updates.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In between people fleeing their homes and a severe financial crisis, many abandoned their pets.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
10 Feb. 2026
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Her grandparents, Edward and Sallie Bryant, emigrated from Kentucky in 1880 along with tens of thousands of other Exoduster families fleeing the racial violence and economic exploitation of the post-Civil War South.—
Elijah Winkler,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolting. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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