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
When spinach bolts, the plant focuses its energy on producing flowers and seeds rather than leaves.
—
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
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
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolts
Verb
-
Then the price jumps to $25 a month or $20 a month for an annual subscription.—
Christine Haughney Dare-Bryan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Known for twisty, psychological thrillers with dark themes, tragedies, time jumps and lightning-fast pacing, Coben's books and shows have captivated audiences for years.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Once again, extraordinary wealth is concentrating into fewer hands while technology races ahead faster than society’s moral conscience.—
Tom Debley,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
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While Jackson County races to hear the last of homeowners’ appeals from the troubled 2023 property valuation cycle, some could be eligible for a class action lawsuit.—
Ilana Arougheti
June 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
As natural gas output partially retreats, global seaborne coal shipments to the region have risen, even if China and India are insourcing more domestic coal.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Exhausted, my mind retreats toward sleep.—
Joseph Trinidad,
Longreads,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Fieri exclaims as Jesser laughs.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
Lopez exclaims before jumping in place excitedly and pulling Abdalla into a hug.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
The chemical is particularly tough on the human respiratory system and, depending on how much a person inhales, MMA can cause everything from sore throats and cough to dizziness, nausea and, at the highest levels, damage to the nervous system, Kleinman said.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Oc Register,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Frequent mowing keeps clippings small, preventing smothering and speeds up decomposition for reuse.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
21 June 2026
-
The First Alert Weather Team is keeping an eye on this next storm system, just in case the timeline speeds up.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Here, a quilt flies over the spacious skies of Utah’s Dead Horse Point State Park (an area threatened by drilling permits approved by the US Bureau of Land Management) bearing Wes Gordon’s Georgia, Ashlynn Park’s Arkansas, and Sergio Hudson’s South Carolina, among others.—
Alexandra Hildreth,
Vogue,
23 June 2026
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The Lions are not typically a team that flies counter to recognizing social justice causes.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Zach Bryan shouts out the crowd on the London leg of his With Heaven on Tour on June 17.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
-
Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolts. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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