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bugged out

verb

past tense of bug out
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

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.
Recent Examples of bugged out Matt, your eyes just really bugged out! — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugged out
  1. fled
  2. departed
  3. retreated
  4. exited
  5. bolted
  6. moved
  7. escaped
  8. got
Verb
  • The 911 caller told dispatchers a person in the building started the fire and fled the scene.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled and a pursuit began, Igoe said.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fled
Verb
  • McGregor and Strickland departed Oban, Scotland, at the end of August and are set to arrive in Brazil later this fall.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The milestone journey, which departed California on September 7, 2026, and arrived in North Carolina on September 14 before being officially announced on September 18, was far more than a technical showcase.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of departed
Verb
  • Treasury yields retreated from a two-decade high as traders pared bets on further Fed tightening after last month's rate hike.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The North Korean soldiers retreated after the South broadcast audio warnings and fired the shots and there were no clashes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of retreated
Verb
  • Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell, who exited his start last week with left groin tightness, threw a bullpen on Tuesday.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • One of the bullets exited her head before reentering her left arm near the elbow, where it was recovered during the autopsy.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of exited
Verb
  • With third base open, Crews and Abrams bolted, and both slid in safely.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Loan origination platforms are even further behind; most AI in mortgage lending today arrives as a third-party add-on bolted onto infrastructure that wasn’t designed for it.
    — Wesley D. Snow, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of bolted
Verb
  • And in the subadult part of the bracket, Bear #89 (Backpack) and Brady Bunch member 620 each moved onto the next round.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But Booker, according to Mills, brought Blumenthal—Connecticut’s other senator—into the effort and ultimately moved forward with a bill, against Murphy’s wishes.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of moved
Verb
  • The Tigers pulled to within a point with 23 seconds left in the game after Tre Nichols escaped a trio of would-be tacklers and lofted a 67-yard touchdown pass to Carter McElhany.
    — Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Hemingway escaped through a rear door and was later found by a police canine unit, allegedly hiding in a neighbor’s backyard, according to police.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of escaped
Verb
  • In recent decades, the yardstick got a boost via exceptionally low real rates.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Joe and Nathan’s doomed bromance started off tense, got better over time, and worsened again once Joe found another bro to romance with.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of got

Browse Nearby Words

bugged off
bugged out
bugger
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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. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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