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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At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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Even with state and federal backing, developers are retreating and selling properties, signaling that grassroots activism is fundamentally reshaping Big Tech’s expansion strategy.—
Marc Levy,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Warren joins former Boise State wide receivers coach Matt Miller and safeties coach Tyler Stockton in departing the program in recent days.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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Tourists seeking to visit the Statue of Liberty were defrauded daily by unscrupulous ticket-hawkers pitching water tours departing miles away that charge high prices and can’t land on Liberty Island.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene, officials said.—
Alexandra Koch , Bill Melugin , Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While police approached, O’Neil was seen exiting the sporting goods store.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Comply with exiting the vehicle if ordered, but do not argue; dispute violations later in court.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hall was in net when Boston's Bobby Orr scored in overtime to win the Cup for the Bruins in 1970, a goal that's among the most famous in hockey history because of the flying through the air celebration that followed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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While some travelers praise the trend for reducing stress and avoiding baggage fees, others say flying without bags is unrealistic for longer trips or work travel.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York voted against moving ahead with the package, along with all but eight of his Democratic colleagues.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
10 Nov. 2025
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Director Michael Arden, meanwhile, is up to his elbows just moving the cumbersome Legos of Dane Laffrey’s set around.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
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Toronto’s fielding fails them Addison Barger stared at the sky, bolting to his right as Austin Wells’ fly ball fell.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Our great state’s western border, running along New Mexico, was officially set in the Compromise of 1850, which was actually a series of bills passed mainly to address issues related to slavery, according to the National Archives.—
Zacharia Washington,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Jan. 2026
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Gary Messina said he was rushed by a mountain lion while running along the same northern Colorado trail on a dark morning in November.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugging out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging%20out. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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