1
2
as in races
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 retreats
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 exclaims
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling
bolted out the cuss word without thinking
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in inhales
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
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Recent Examples of bolts
If Leonard bolts, the Clippers will look to rebuild around young point guard Darius Garland, who came to the team in the Harden trade.
—
Janis Carr, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
With that in mind, here are a few free agent options who could fit the Yankees if Bellinger bolts.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
The canine then bolts across the field and is immediately chased by one horse, with about five more joining in moments later.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Parsley is a biennial that quickly bolts and dies the second year, and since second-year parsley is bitter, it’s typically grown as an annual.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Janis Carr, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
With that in mind, here are a few free agent options who could fit the Yankees if Bellinger bolts.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
The canine then bolts across the field and is immediately chased by one horse, with about five more joining in moments later.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Parsley is a biennial that quickly bolts and dies the second year, and since second-year parsley is bitter, it’s typically grown as an annual.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolts
Verb
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The main reason this position group jumps up so much is Georgia transfer Dominick Kelly, who provides key depth.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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As a viewer, your mind instantly jumps back to the pre-Jackson 5 brothers practicing in their living room in Gary, Indiana, in the 1960s.—
Keith Murphy,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Its untapped reserves are being wasted as the world races toward an era of abundant renewable energy.—
Judah Taub,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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The film unfolds in Kathmandu, where a mother races to shield her nine-year-old daughter from a sudden and troubling change – a journey that forces both characters to reckon with trauma and with a legal system ill-equipped to deliver justice.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As Siâvash increasingly retreats into imaginary characters, the documentary traces a sibling relationship shaped and strained by displacement, set against a backdrop of escalating tension between Iran and the United States that carries personal consequences for both subjects.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
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Garcia retreats, the video shows.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Zao exclaims on its Yelp page for the restaurant at The Village.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Apr. 2026
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Denard exclaims, using an emerging slur against robots and AI.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The law speeds a notoriously slow process and allows state parks officials to more easily buy lands for less than $1 million or take free donations from environmental groups if the properties abut existing state parks and won’t require hiring new rangers or other staff.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
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This approach not only speeds up decision-making but also improves hiring quality by making comparisons between candidates more objective and data-driven.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Vertical flies under an arrangement that has been accumulating evidence toward certification for three years.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2026
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The National Guard unit flies F-16 Fighting Falcon jet aircraft.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This grand procession of Edmonia’s work is an act of reclamation—a gathering in her name that shouts through stone and into the eons.—
Tyehimba Jess,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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William shouts that someone DID come looking!—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From her experience, the grasshopper drawing attention in Arizona devours everything in its path, whereas the chapulín is tied to greener environments and specific crops, such as cornfields, alfalfa, and squash leaves.—
Nadia Cantú,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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But May also routinely devours Tool, Nine Inch Nails, and jazz albums from Miles Davis.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolts. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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