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 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 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
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
  • The model, 31, was seen departing for the ceremony with boyfriend Bradley Cooper, 51.
    — Morgan Evans, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Celebrations began Friday evening and stretched into the early hours of Saturday morning, with stars like Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone and Paul Rudd seen departing the venue.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 4 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
  • Asian national teams largely disappointed at the World Cup, with most exiting after the group stage, a stark contrast to African teams' historic success.
    — Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The Ada County Coroner’s Office identified 65-year-old Dawn Hettinger of Nampa as the woman killed after exiting her vehicle on westbound Interstate 84 about 20 miles east of Boise.
    — Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 2 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
  • Why China is moving fast with robot hospitality China has already embraced service robots in hotels, restaurants, airports and public spaces.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Vibrations from earth-moving equipment could have triggered further collapses, possibly dooming Gil — and his would-be rescuers.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 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
  • The district is in the central part of Palm Beach County, running along the coast.
    — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026
  • Her car was found with its engine still running along the Blue Route off-ramp to Route 1.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 23 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 9 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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