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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bug out
In the clip, Crosby's eyes bug out as his head goes from shoulder-to-shoulder watching the ball successfully go in.
—
Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Sealing cracks, maintaining your yard, and using insect barriers are the most effective ways to keep boxelder bugs out.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
Her baby's father answered the door with his eyes bugging out, and Frierson barged in to find two other guys, needles, spoons and powder on the table.
—Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
The clear lids have a tight seal that locks the temperature in and keeps the fire ants and love bugs out.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bug out
Anne Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Sealing cracks, maintaining your yard, and using insect barriers are the most effective ways to keep boxelder bugs out.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
Her baby's father answered the door with his eyes bugging out, and Frierson barged in to find two other guys, needles, spoons and powder on the table.
—Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
The clear lids have a tight seal that locks the temperature in and keeps the fire ants and love bugs out.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bug out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug out
Verb
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Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index retreated nearly 2%, leading losses in the region.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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The agents ultimately retreated without bringing Pretti into custody.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton has also departed the team for the same position with the Tennessee Titans.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Jan. 2026
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Also new were the designer’s first jersey pieces, with draping departing from the rear and enclosing the shoulders, open on the midriff and sculpted around the hips.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The suspect fled the area before police arrived.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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Salazarmontano also admitted sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter and inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The team held a moment of silence for Good, 37, who was killed while operating a vehicle that agents ordered her to exit, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Private Equity Playbook — Adam Coffey An operator’s guide to scaling, acquiring, and exiting businesses based on extensive private equity experience.—
Jennifer J. Fondrevay,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is like ignoring weather conditions when flying an airplane.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Narcotraffickers have recruited a number of couriers to fly to Miami and other cities to set up phony businesses with corporate bank accounts, authorities say.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By rolling MXene flakes into tubes, the team created hollow structures that allow ions to move more freely.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
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Karlee Smith jumped on a quad bike to help herd sheep away from the fast-moving flames on a farm in the town of Gellibrand, a small rural town, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southwest of Melbourne.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The goal is to let developers of all skill levels build and deploy agentic workflows with governance embedded by default, rather than bolted on after the fact.—
Victor Dey,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Many tasks are still completed by hand, from sewing the dashboard leather to bolting in suspension components, but automated electric transports are used to deliver parts and move vehicles between workstations.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To me, quality can be part of the formula to get audience.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Also, the cold weather is forecast to get much worse from Sunday, with temperatures dropping even further and making the time frame for a pause in attacks hard to understand.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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