bugging out

verb

present participle of bug out
1
as in retreating
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 departing
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 bugging out There’s a wonderful small moment midway through the season where Reilly’s lightly bugging out in his dingy apartment, shaking out his limbs at sharp, insectile angles to get comfortable. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 26 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugging out
  1. retreating
  2. departing
  3. fleeing
  4. exiting
  5. flying
  6. moving
  7. bolting
  8. running along
Verb
  • What’s more, despite retreating somewhat, high fuel prices continue to chomp away at motorists’ budgets.
    — Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Fast-forward to this week, and CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks hit intraday all-time highs Monday, before retreating a bit Tuesday.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 7 July 2026
Definition of retreating
Verb
  • In a surprising twist, Harper has selected Los Angeles Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel to throw to him, departing from his previous choice of his father.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Apple alleged that OpenAI coached departing Apple employees in how to evade security processes when leaving the iPhone maker, and that Chang Liu, a former employee who joined OpenAI, stole an Apple laptop.
    — Kif Leswing,MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of departing
Verb
  • The actress was born in a refugee camp in Germany, where her parents had landed after fleeing from Iran.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026
  • The pair of earthquakes struck on June 24, knocking down buildings, sending residents fleeing for safety and trapping some survivors under the rubble for days.
    — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of fleeing
Verb
  • Lawtey starred in the first three seasons of BBC and HBO banking drama Industry, before exiting before this year’s fourth run.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 July 2026
  • News of the second season release date comes not long after it was reported that series star Tom Hardy will return Season 3 after a previous fallout with the show’s producers led to him briefly exiting the series.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 July 2026
Definition of exiting
Verb
  • At the heart of every Freak is its distinctive flying carousel architecture.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Surveillance footage captured by a camera on the affected home, shared by Avila's daughter Jennifer Barbour on Facebook, shows the vehicle flying off the road before striking the home.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of flying
Verb
  • Still, as the game wore on to the waning moments, both teams were visibly sapped of energy and moving at a slower pace, including Haaland, who faded late in the game, was subbed out at the 105-minute mark and replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
  • If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 July 2026
Definition of moving
Verb
  • Timing your planting to avoid summer heat will prevent bolting.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 7 July 2026
  • Many brands expand into experiences once product growth slows, bolting hospitality or lifestyle onto an existing business model.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of bolting
Verb
  • There was a point that night, still being replayed on social media even now, where Connors was running along the back wall, throwing up lobs as the noise in the place kept building with each one.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
  • The district is in the central part of Palm Beach County, running along the coast.
    — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026
Definition of running along

Browse Nearby Words

bugging off
bugging out
buggy
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Cite this Entry

“Bugging out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging%20out. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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