Synonyms of bolts

bolts

verb

present tense third-person singular of bolt

1

as in jumps

to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jumps
• leaps
• winces
• cringes
• startles
• jerks
• springs
• flinches
• starts
• twitches
• recoils
• jolts
• reacts
• shrinks
• bounds
• responds
• spooks
• blenches
• quails
• squinches

2

as in races

to proceed or move quickly

the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• races
• speeds
• zips
• drives
• rushes
• travels
• flies
• scurries
• trots
• hurries
• chases
• jumps
• barrels
• buzzes
• darts
• runs
• dashes
• bowls
• blows
• belts
• motors
• steps
• scoots
• rams
• tears
• blasts
• scuttles
• rips
• shoots
• zooms
• hurls
• jets
• courses
• jogs
• bundles
• rockets
• cracks (on)
• whirls
• blazes
• rustles
• pelts
• bombs
• hies
• whisks
• hustles
• nips
• hurtles
• careers
• humps
• bustles
• hares
• breezes
• highballs
• beats it
• steps on it
• hastens
• makes tracks
• careens
• cannonballs
• gallops
• shakes a leg
• beetles
• hotfoots (it)
• gets a move on
• sprints
• scampers
• flits
• streaks
• scuds
• stampedes
• arrows
• whizzes
• accelerates
• steps out
• outruns
• scuffles
• quickens
• overtakes
• outstrips
• outpaces
• catches up
• beelines
• fast-forwards

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pokes
• crawls
• drags
• creeps
• lags
• lingers
• hangs (around or out)
• pokes
• loiters
• strolls
• dallies
• tarries
• dawdles
• saunters
• shuffles
• dillydallies
• ambles
• slows (down or up)
• lumbers
• decelerates
• plods

3

as in retreats

to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retreats
• flies
• flees
• runs
• escapes
• breaks
• runs away
• beats a retreat
• turns tail
• runs off
• beats it
• makes tracks
• skedaddles
• hightails (it)
• bugs out
• lams
• absconds
• lights out
• elopes
• gets (away)
• mizzles
• scarpers
• decamps
• scrams
• makes off
• gets out
• skips (out)
• scats
• skirrs
• clears out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• faces
• confronts
• dares
• defies
• braves
• remains
• dwells
• stays
• beards
• lingers
• hangs around
• abides
• sticks around
• tarries

4

as in exclaims

to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling

bolted out the cuss word without thinking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exclaims
• shouts
• bellows
• cries (out)
• blats
• roars
• ejaculates
• blurts (out)
• leaks
• hollers
• interjects
• whoops
• howls
• crows
• hoots
• yowls
• blunders
• bleats
• aahs
• oohs

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

• inhales
• devours
• gulps
• scarfs
• scoffs
• wolfs
• gobbles
• ravens
• slops
• crams
• gluts
• ingurgitates
• gorges
• gormandizes
• pigs out
• swills
• overeats

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• picks
• pecks
• nibbles

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bolts

This episode, Zack wakes up and bolts upright with the bandage still on his head from getting clobbered with a sign on his birthday and can’t remember what happened the night before. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing bolts

• nuts and bolts