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
Verb
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The Continental Army retreated from Montreal and its environs in June 1776, after British reinforcements from the north began recapturing the province.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025 -
After the trial ended, in which Heard was originally ordered to pay Depp $15 million, the actress largely retreated from the public eye, moving away from her home in California to Spain with her daughter, Oonagh, in search of privacy.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Verb
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The ship departed from Tokyo on April 26 for a cruise through Japan and Alaska before arriving in Vancouver, according to CruiseMapper.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Others, including many consumer services and light industries, are now dominated by Russian businesses who were able to purchase the assets of departing Western firms on the cheap and move unopposed into their former market niches.—
Fred Weir,
Christian Science Monitor,
14 May 2025
Verb
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As the Nazis encroached on Czechoslovakia in 1938, the Löw-Beers fled.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 May 2025
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In the past, a similar violation might have led to a fine. Petrova, a top-tier researcher, fled Russia after protesting Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine and had been working in a Harvard Medical School lab for two years.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
Verb
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If there is a moment to be seized, it only can be seized by a mix superior to what exited amid embarrassment last month.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2025
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Kerry Dryburgh, Chief Human Resource Officer of bp, offered a powerful example of this during our CHRO panel, reflecting on the company’s decision to exit Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.—
Eric Mosley,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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The shutting down of airports was potentially embarrassing for Moscow, as delegations from countries that have remained friendly to Russia were flying in to attend the parade on Friday.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
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An asteroid the size of a football stadium will fly safely by Earth on Friday, May 9, 2025, 23 years after its discovery.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Among girls' names, Mia moves into the top 5, knocking out Sophia, which was the No. 1 name for girls from 2011-2013 and had been in the top 5 every year from 2009 except for 2021.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Henry moved up two spots from 2023, while Mateo and Elijah moved down.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Unlike the Eastern Seaboard, where turbines can be bolted into the seabed, the continental shelf off the coast in the Pacific plunges steeply.—
Rob Nikolewski,
Mercury News,
8 May 2025
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Harris, a five-star, left Texas A&M for LSU in December 2022 and then bolted Baton Rouge for UTSA a year later.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Pickens also got into arguments with fans in the stands.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2025
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Ava rises at dawn to get a makeover at the mall to prepare to see her gorgeous, successful ex-girlfriend.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
9 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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