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
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Recent Examples of bugging out
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
Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugging out
Verb
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Advertisement The ability to sit face to face, to listen as much as to argue, to disagree without retreating into caricature is a prerequisite for meaningful action.—
Alan H.H. Fleischmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Defeat at Fort Necessity Washington then made the fateful decision to dig in and call for reinforcements instead of retreating in the face of inevitable French retaliation.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Lock your home before departing.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
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Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York were also among the 10 states with the greatest numbers of departing residents.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He has been charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle, and felony assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, the sheriff’s office said.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Feb. 2026
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That evidence came in the form of a video recorded by the Venezuelan national's wife, who said her husband was shot in front of their family while fleeing ICE officers on foot.—
Stephen Swanson,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These included rumors that Davis was exiting the company for a potential top position at Alaïa, and would be succeeded by Gucci’s former creative director Sabato De Sarno.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Money is exiting, but the majority of assets have remained in place, and some ETF experts say the money being pulled isn’t from the long-term investor or financial advisor that have begun allocating to the asset class.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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House Bill 561, sponsored by Hill and focused on blocking Boise from flying a Pride flag, was sent to the House’s amending order after a debate on the House floor.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Feb. 2026
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A number of the parents who witnessed that 2024 apology are flying in from around the country in hopes of securing a courtroom seat to watch Zuckerberg’s witness testimony.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mostly, however, Gee’s sophisticated, stealthily moving film folds any bursts of emotion into its exquisitely dark shadows, letting Evans’ limpid but heartsore music do most of the weeping.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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Juliette Binoche has spent four decades embodying the restless intelligence of French and European cinema, moving effortlessly between auteurs and emotional registers.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The high-stakes move is aimed at stopping a half-dozen suburbs from bolting from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The map submitted to the commissioners court shows the Onion Creek trail running along the creek for part of its length, as well as along Buda's Main Street.—
Richard Webner,
San Antonio Express-News,
9 Feb. 2026
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Bowell is charged in the March 29, 2025 death of Ann Seidl, 54, who was struck while running along County Highway Y in the Town of Dunn and pronounced dead at the scene, according to WEAU, WQOW and WKRC.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugging out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging%20out. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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