BUGGING OUT Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

bugging out

verb

present participle of bug out

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

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

Verb

James survived the shooting, but is shown retreating back to his car while losing blood.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
The outlet claimed that, while Beatrice was focused on supporting her family, Edo was retreating into his work.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of retreating

Verb

Mohamed Salah has left, departing Liverpool after nine years at Anfield.

— Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Before departing for recess, the Senate is expected to take up acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination to permanently lead the Department of Justice.

— Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of departing

Verb

An Aurora man accused of killing a female bicyclist in Hampshire with his pickup truck and then fleeing the scene has been charged with felony failure to report a crash resulting in a death, officials said.

— Elgin Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Key Background Reiner was accused of fatally stabbing his parents at their home in December and was arrested that same day after fleeing.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of fleeing

Verb

This trend is driven by Baby Boomer retirements and immigrants exiting the workforce, partly due to aggressive deportation policies.

— Harry Holzer, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
But exiting Middle-earth beside cartoon Frodo, there’s a sense that this 98-minute musical adaptation is truly just the beginning.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of exiting

Verb

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on the other plane flying with the president, sources said.

— Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Patrick Gotwalt was a passenger on the flight and recorded a video showing flames coming from the engine as the flight appears to be flying over water.

— Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of flying

Verb

When rolling, it is recommended to run the pasta through a pasta machine at the thickest setting first, then fold the pasta strip over itself into 3 thicknesses and repeat, before moving down a setting.

— Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Though one of the youngest in the field, Bullock carried herself with veteranlike focus, moving through her routine with confidence.

— Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of moving

Verb

That work is arguably getting harder as chief executives stay in the job longer, causing their possible successors to get restless; some are bolting to jobs elsewhere or retiring themselves.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
To save the cost and effort of pumping millions of liters of seawater solely to obtain minerals, the researchers propose bolting modular reactors onto coastal desalination plants, which already move enormous quantities of the stuff.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026

Definition of bolting

Verb

And, to his right, Koehn saw a man, later identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, running along Blue Lakes with a rifle in his hands.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 7 Aug. 2026
Two 911 callers reported seeing a child in a towel running along a state highway near the Scioto River, according to audio of the calls obtained by ABC News.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of running along

Browse Nearby Words

bugging off

bugging out

buggy

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“Bugging out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging%20out. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of bugging out

verb

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