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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bolts
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
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
-
Boitano said Liu was exceptional in her early years, performing jumps no other skater could execute at the time.—
Janelle Davis,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Continue reading … DRAMATIC RESCUE – Viral video captures moments after mother jumps into water to save daughter.—
,
FOXNews.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That is because the House sent the DHS funding over to the Senate tied together with billions in spending for defense, health, transportation and other federal agencies, in part to expedite the process as Congress races to meet a Friday deadline to keep the government fully open.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But when Zara leaves, Rhys races back to his house and goes through his files from the case.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Menopause retreats at properties with spas take that tension-melting vibe a step further.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Less well defined is the character of Miss Delavigne, although she’s wonderfully portrayed by Englert, who retreats into this mousy persona.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Derry exclaims while staring at a pile of dirty dishes and food debris on the floor.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
-
Shayna McHayle’s Junglepussy exclaims at the beginning of the bank-robbery scene.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The formula also includes Persian silk tree extract, a fancy-sounding ingredient that speeds up your skin’s healing process, resulting in a brighter, fresher complexion.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
20 Jan. 2026
-
After weeks of focusing on stability, the energy lightens and speeds up.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One area that flies under the AI radar of most consumers is the processing of audio content.—
Karl Freund,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
No one confuses kilowatt-hours with productivity, yet no serious economy flies blind without tracking them.—
Noosheen Hashemi,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Both sides failed to score after their respective penalty shouts, which means Arsenal slightly extended their gap at the top of the Premier League to seven points after Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United earlier in the day.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Hilliker shouts as her family applauds them.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But in Washington, politics devours everything, even the sacred.—
Tara Palmeri,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Gratitude requires perspective, but perpetual outrage devours perspective.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bolts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolts. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
