1
as in to retreat
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 to depart
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug out
Verb
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The project represents the state’s largest effort to date to address the environmental problems plaguing the Salton Sea, which has been steadily retreating and leaving growing stretches of dusty lake bottom exposed to the desert winds.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025 -
Trump hasn’t been tapped along because Putin has never retreated from his annexation ends or his savage means.—
Andrew C. McCarthy,
National Review,
24 May 2025
Verb
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The 26-year-old England full-back will depart Anfield after nine years with the first team that brought 352 appearances, 23 goals, 86 assists and eight domestic, European and world trophies.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
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After the ceremony ended, Trump quickly departed to play a round of golf.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
Verb
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But in 1986, after three years of public protests, the Marcoses fled into exile, with a planeload of jewels, cash, and gold bars.—
Evan Osnos,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
-
Magnotta fled Canada after the murder, wearing a wig and boarding a flight to Paris, Global News reported.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
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That’s what happened in 2008, the last time the BOJ tried to exit its deflation-era policy framework.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
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The topic of Ventura surfaced in those discussions, during which Clark disclosed her earlier comments urging Ventura to exit the relationship.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
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This technology allows even those with limited flying experience to handle the bike safely and confidently.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
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This was the first launch since Bezos' fiancé Lauren Sánchez flew with an all-woman crew that included pop star Katy Perry and TV morning show host Gayle King in April.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
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The two new fire stations, plus the new fire department headquarters that is set to hold a relocated Fire Station 4, are being moved at the recommendation of a 2021 plan that looked to lower emergency response times.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
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Last month, the department moved ahead with negotiated rulemaking, a lengthy process that would result in changes to federal regulations.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Two people accused of assisting the inmates who bolted from a New Orleans jail in last Friday's mass escape have been arrested as the search for fugitives still at large stetched into its sixth day, officials said.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
21 May 2025
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Schultz bolts out of the room, and Deschanel's character whips a ukulele out of thin air.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Left-hander Pierce Coppola got the start and, after a dominant return against Alabama to the tune of 10 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, just couldn’t find the zone.—
Jackson Castellano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 June 2025
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Clients would get the remains of not only their loved one, but also the remains of other bodies.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
2 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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