bug out

verb

Definition of bug outnext
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

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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
  1. retreat
  2. depart
  3. flee
  4. exit
  5. fly
  6. move
  7. bolt
  8. get
Verb
  • Meanwhile, conservative activists spread rumors last week that Talarico was struggling with his mental health and had secretly retreated to an Ohio hospital.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
  • While Chelsea tend to retreat after taking the lead, their opponents also become more aggressive in response, committing extra bodies forward and helping to create more open, end-to-end encounters.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • Founders and designers Dean and Dan Caten had been leading the company since the exit in February 2024 of general manager Ennio Fontana, who departed after less than a year in the role.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (back) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (quad) were also present at practice after departing in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the Buccaneers.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of depart
Verb
  • Bassam Abed said at least 10 residences housing some 300 families were reduced to rubble, and families were not given enough time to flee.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Other passengers included André Breton, Victor Serge, and Claude Lévi-Strauss—all fleeing the inferno.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of flee
Verb
  • Alme will still likely win based on the latest polling, but the margin could have been closer if Bankhead exited the race.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Yamamoto exited after giving up three runs and four hits in the shortest start of his career.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of exit
Verb
  • The company had been gearing up to fly several more this year having already been given approval to fly as many as 12 times a year.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
  • For the 31st time as secretary of state, Marco Rubio has left on a trip abroad, flying to Uzbekistan and later India amid rumblings that America's top diplomat is ignoring pressing matters in favor of politically safer visits and meetings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of fly
Verb
  • Components can move from machining to assembly on the same day or the following day, enabling teams to test design changes on physical hardware sooner.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • However, the higher PPI is pointing to an economy that is gradually moving away from deflationary pressures even if the recovery remains uneven, said Hao Zhou, chief economist at Guotai Junan International Holdings.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of move
Verb
  • Following the win, Smart bolted straight for the visitors section, slinging his visor around in the air while the Georgia fans and Kirby's wife waited to embrace his family.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • And unlike its siblings, the subframe on the T40 is permanently welded to the main frame as opposed to being bolted on.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of bolt
Verb
  • White said Salvation Brands is not to be confused with the big brand management firms such as Authentic Brands Group and WHP Global, which are getting all the attention these days.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Waddhwa moved to strike a film development deal around the incident after getting unsolicited inquiries from Indian media firms.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of get
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.

Browse Nearby Words

bug off
bug out
bugs
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Cite this Entry

“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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