bugs out

verb

present tense third-person singular of bug out
1
as in flies
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 exits
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 bugs out The cuffed hemline can also be tightened as needed—a tiny detail that’s extra useful for keeping bugs out of your pant legs during outdoor adventures. — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 11 July 2026 The gazebo also includes transparent panels designed to keep pesky bugs out without obstructing the breeze or your views. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026 Sealing cracks, maintaining your yard, and using insect barriers are the most effective ways to keep boxelder bugs out. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugs out
  1. flies
  2. exits
  3. retreats
  4. departs
  5. flees
  6. moves
  7. bolts
  8. bugs off
Verb
  • This essential oil contains high concentrations of menthol, which produces a powerful scent that flies dislike.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The few times White Sox batters made solid contact — flies to the warning track or infielder liners — his fielders were in position.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of flies
Verb
  • The Stadium has four main entry gates, where the lines can overlap and even snake back toward the subway exits.
    — Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
  • When an older wine consumer exits the category, one younger consumer doesn’t necessarily replace that demand.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of exits
Verb
  • Twice a day, the tide retreats from the shoreline, sometimes for up to two miles.
    — Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As his mind retreats to the hues of old movies, Charlotte breaks the fog with a glimmer of humanity.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of retreats
Verb
  • For example, if one centre-forward departs, Villa would want a replacement.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Flooding, mudslides and hazardous surf remain concerns even as the storm departs.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of departs
Verb
  • At the end of the 2001 film, Rodriguez’s Letty flees the country.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Holden eagerly rebels against Pencey Prep, gets the boot, and flees to New York City, a place with its own vices and hazards, but without the sort of propaganda and pretense that obscure the school’s dark underside.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of flees
Verb
  • Muso’s model of proactive community healthcare is showing what becomes possible when care moves closer to families.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Beckman stays with the play well and moves quickly without going out of position.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of moves
Verb
  • Gravis Robotics sells the Gravis Rack, a control kit that bolts onto equipment already sitting on a jobsite.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • This episode, Zack wakes up and bolts upright with the bandage still on his head from getting clobbered with a sign on his birthday and can’t remember what happened the night before.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Definition of bolts
Verb
  • To keep pesky bugs off your skin, the pants feature a rope lock around the cuffs.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
  • Blast bugs off your house with the garden hose.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Definition of bugs off

Browse Nearby Words

bugs off
bugs out
build
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Cite this Entry

“Bugs out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugs%20out. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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