1
as in fled
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 departed
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 bugged out
Verb
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The student then got into a car driven by a second student and the two fled, the university said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025 -
The striking vehicle fled the scene following the crash, police added.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ramy Youssef and Josh Rabinowitz, who were credited as co-creators and executive producers when Netflix picked up the series in May 2024, have since departed over creative differences.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
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Having left Netflix in August after nearly 14 years at the streamer, Friedlander serves as the successor to Vernon Sanders, who departed as the TV boss earlier in September.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the image from 1984, Prow Knob is almost entirely surrounded by the Alsek Glacier, but by 1999, the glacier had retreated, encircling only half of the mountain.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
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Callas lost her voice and retreated to her mausoleum-like apartment on the Avenue Georges Mandel in Paris’ posh sixteenth arrondissement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But even more disappointing than Prescott's performance was the fact that star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb exited in the first quarter after suffering an apparent ankle injury.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
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In the second half, Diggs exited briefly after suffering a shoulder injury while making a tackle.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then the Jays moved a win away.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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The Eagles ran the play throughout the game, with multiple instances where the offensive lineman moved before the snap.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Belief spread to the basepaths, where Jake Meyers bolted from second and sprinted for home.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
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According to Robert Lee, a former NSA veteran who founded Dragos to focus on securing critical infrastructure, many SCADA systems have had connectivity bolted on in recent years without much thought about how that would make those systems more vulnerable to outside manipulation.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The refinement of his technique and the discipline of his eyes got better as the game went along.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
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Then, as those kids grew up and, inevitably, got sentimental about their childhood, the diner adopted a standard set of surface-level signifiers and effectively turned itself into a nostalgia factory.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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His peace of mind doesn’t survive the first commute to work, when Alex and Dwayne nearly run over a dirty, barefoot, hysterical boy, Riley (Gage Munroe), who has escaped from TPA.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
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Cincinnati then escaped with a four-point victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, despite backup QB Jake Browning tossing three interceptions.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bugged out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugged%20out. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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