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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
Verb
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The nationalism is real too, but a man flying his country’s flag in a stranger’s city is not retreating into his nation.
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Because of Oracle’s retreating stock price, Ellison has been surpassed on the world’s list of wealthiest people by Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Michael Dell.
Verb
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Geoff was concerned about his children departing for college, leaving him and his wife as empty nesters.
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Also departing was Celebrity Autobiography, the specialty show with a rotating cast of stars reading the memoirs of other celebrities to comic effect.
Verb
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In addition to a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in a motor vehicle, the man also faces a misdemeanor battery charge, according to online Ada County Jail records.
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The evidence included surveillance video of Anthony fleeing the bleachers after the stabbing, body camera footage of his confession during arrest and photographs of the knife used.
Verb
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An Uber driver taking fans to Kansas City’s first World Cup match was injured, as was a woman who was exiting Interstate 70 on her way to pick up her brother.
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The ships included eight tankers and two cargo ships exiting the Persian Gulf and eight tankers and six cargo ships entering it.
Verb
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Anthony Maglione was flying from Pittsburgh to Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, via Philadelphia on March 16 and started having issues soon after his first flight.
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Federal prosecutors have said conspirators in the alleged plot discussed flying drones loaded with explosives over the event and then shooting into the fleeing crowd.
Verb
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Ashton's journey from moving bins to cleaning them demonstrates that a complete roadmap isn't necessary; curiosity and taking the next step are crucial.
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These wearable devices are rapidly moving away from novelty into the mainstream.
Verb
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This can include not coming when called, digging under or going over a fence, or simply bolting.
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Redesign the workflow around the agent rather than bolting the agent onto the existing process.
Verb
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The district is in the central part of Palm Beach County, running along the coast.
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Her car was found with its engine still running along the Blue Route off-ramp to Route 1.
Cite this Entry
“Bugging out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging%20out. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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