1
as in to retreat
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the ground soldiers bugged out just before the start of the aerial bombing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to depart
to leave a place often for another
the strange visitor bugged out without so much as saying a word
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug out
Verb
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Instead of retreating from global trade, many small and mid-sized companies are leaning in and even accelerating global expansion.—
Greg Hewitt,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026 -
While India’s media landscape has largely retreated in the face of the Hindu right’s fascism, Kandasamy is one of the few consistently at the barricades.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The train, which departs every Wednesday, is limited to 22 passengers and everyone is guaranteed a window seat.—
Lauren David,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
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Karren Brady, who departed in April after 16 years as vice-chair, had previously assisted with interviewing candidates.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Over the years, Wayne has forged a genuine connection with the Mandalorian's little Force-wielding apprentice (and the puppeteers who operate him), which made telling Grogu to flee the planet without him that much harder.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 May 2026
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In a nearby tent was Zuhoor Musa Abdul Rahman, a 30-year-old housewife who recounted with unnatural calm the horrors that spurred her to flee El Fasher, a city some 300 miles east of Obeid.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Starter Bryce Elder exited after 3 1/3 innings, charged with six runs, five of them earned, on nine hits, one walk and with just one strikeout.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
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Blessing appears to want to exit the vehicle but is unable to fully open his door as it is pinned by the table.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
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After squeezing the game’s final out, first baseman Leyton MacPherson casually flipped the ball in the air, joined her teammate in a sprint toward Spangler, and gloves began flying.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
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By April and May, the winter bugs will transform into flying insects and begin to mate before dying in two or three days.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Make sure the belt doesn't move, push your knees out into the belt, and hold.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
29 May 2026
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Nippon Dynawave was cited for moving equipment involved before it could be inspected, but not for the incident itself, the news outlet reported.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Neto bolted home with a feet-first slide.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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In this type of test, called a static fire, a rocket is fueled and its engines are ignited to test the onboard systems, but the booster remains bolted to the launch pad and does not lift off.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Serna, however, would make one more attempt to get past Hulst.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
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Just the way his approach is getting better and better every day.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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