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
  • In its wars with the Soviet Union, Finland lost around 11% of its territory, and more than 400,000 people, around 12% of the population, fled their homes from an area that is now in western Russia.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Finland fought several wars with the Soviet Union In its wars with the Soviet Union, Finland lost around 11% of its territory, and more than 400,000 people, around 12% of the population, fled their homes from an area that is now in western Russia.
    — Emma Burrows, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fled
Verb
  • After Barbera and Gyllenhaal departed, their spot at the podium was filled by George Clooney, this year’s recipient of the honorary Golden Lion.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this year, a senior curator departed the AGO after reports that the museum had rejected a plan to acquire a work by Nan Goldin because the artist had described Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of departed
Verb
  • Though gas prices retreated somewhat in the late spring and early summer, the dip was short lived.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • After a brief standoff with the buzzing, metal alien, the bobcat carefully retreated, sidestepping into an adjacent empty room.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of retreated
Verb
  • Legendary photographer Arthur Edwards was waiting to snap a photo as Jerry exited customs.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
  • All six people on board, including the two pilots, safely exited the aircraft.
    — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of exited
Verb
  • Anything bolted on outside them is a second system to police.
    — Rob Green, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Hall of Fame coach is taking over for D’Anton Lynn, who bolted for his alma mater Penn State after two meh seasons.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of bolted
Verb
  • Michigan was 80 yards from the end zone with 10 seconds remaining and hadn’t moved the ball at all since its first drive.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Had moved from my very small town in northern Va to the big city of Richmond to begin my new career as a management trainee with a local bank at the princely sum of $11,000 per year at age 22.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of moved
Verb
  • Perlis’ portrait of the county at the height of the decade suggests a region that had escaped — or at least refused to look at — the worst of America’s turmoil.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Sousa escaped a bases loaded jam in the sixth inducing an inning-ending double play by Nolan Arenado.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of escaped
Verb
  • The rationale being that Frank Lampard got his tactics spot on at the Etihad and on another day – a day when Coventry were more decisive in front of goal – their head coach would have been celebrating an unlikely result.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Niners left California last Wednesday, arrived in Australia on Friday and were set for their first practice of game week on Monday at AAMI Park in Melbourne feeling mostly refreshed after players got a day to explore the city.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 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 9 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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