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
Relevance
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
Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugged out
Verb
-
Authorities said Husien then carjacked another vehicle at gunpoint and fled north toward San Jose.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
In February 2024, three people were shot dead by gunmen – one who arrived and fled aboard a boat – in Acapulco.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But as the Power Station were recording the Living in Fear album, John Taylor departed and Bernard Edwards filled in on bass.—
David Chiu,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Carney departed before the event.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Asia-Pacific markets broadly retreated Tuesday.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
-
But beginning on Saturday, the Syrian military pushed into areas not covered by the agreement, and Kurdish forces appear to have retreated in disarray.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Economists estimate that roughly 300,000 Black women have exited or been excluded from the workforce in 2025, including federal and other public-sector jobs.—
Jallicia Jolly,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Authorities said the two people who had exited the home suffered from minor injuries, and one was transported to the hospital.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Since turning pro in 2023, he's moved quickly to 6-0, including a dominant stoppage of Hironori Mishiro in June 2025.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Late last year, the city officials moved forward with their plan to sell the Bell Mobile and Florence Village Mobile Home Parks, which housed about 300 families.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Vladislav Gavrikov, who bolted in free agency over the summer, returned to his old stomping grounds for the first time and picked up an assist for his new team and an unwelcome one for his former cohorts as well.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Reynolds scored 16 of his 22 points in the first quarter as Martin bolted out to a 29-2 lead after one and led 45-13 at halftime.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Los Angeles Police Department could not immediately provide details of his arrest, but NBC4 reported that Sutherland allegedly got into an altercation with a ride-hailing driver, and was booked on suspicion of criminal threats.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The whole experience somehow got even more embarrassing when a group of women at the restaurant approached him afterwards.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After racing out to a 4-0 lead in the first two periods, off the strength of three goals in 54 seconds in the first period, the Bruins survived by their fingernails a third-period push from the Vegas Golden Knights and escaped TD Garden with a 4-3 victory.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Troops on Monday seized a prison in the northeastern town of Shaddadeh, where some IS detainees escaped and many were recaptured, state media reported.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugged out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugged%20out. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
