as in rushing
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in jumping
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)
I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in racing
to proceed or move quickly
the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in retreating
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening
the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in exclaiming
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling
bolted out the cuss word without thinking
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in inhaling
to swallow or eat greedily
the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bolting
ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
That was, until September 2024 when Gunner was sunbathing outside and suddenly spotted a bunny, bolting after it immediately.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That was accomplished by bolting together several aluminum panels.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
But, lo and behold, the game survived the pitch clock without Kenesaw Mountain Landis bolting from his slumber, so now comes the ABS challenge to stir the pot even more.
—Kevin Sherrington
mar. 9, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Heat also stresses the plant and can cause bolting.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Last year had the Mikko Rantanen saga, Brad Marchand bolting Boston for the champs, Brock Nelson leaving Long Island, Seth Jones getting swapped for Spencer Knight.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Choose varieties that can grow in hotter weather without bolting (flowering).
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The long-shot basket sent players from the Clippers’ bench — and some fans in the stands, too — bolting onto the court in a wild celebration.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
That was, until September 2024 when Gunner was sunbathing outside and suddenly spotted a bunny, bolting after it immediately.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
That was accomplished by bolting together several aluminum panels.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
But, lo and behold, the game survived the pitch clock without Kenesaw Mountain Landis bolting from his slumber, so now comes the ABS challenge to stir the pot even more.
—Kevin Sherrington
mar. 9, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Heat also stresses the plant and can cause bolting.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Last year had the Mikko Rantanen saga, Brad Marchand bolting Boston for the champs, Brock Nelson leaving Long Island, Seth Jones getting swapped for Spencer Knight.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Choose varieties that can grow in hotter weather without bolting (flowering).
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The long-shot basket sent players from the Clippers’ bench — and some fans in the stands, too — bolting onto the court in a wild celebration.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bolting
Verb
-
Prepare for another massive change with temps jumping again in the Philadelphia region.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The video, which circulated on social media Friday, shows three men wearing white shirts and black pants jumping out of a car beside a field in southwestern Iran.—
Max Burman,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2019, the odds for the three worst teams were flattened, as a way to discourage teams from racing to the bottom.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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That proved costly less than a minute later when Markanich, racing up the center, got behind Galaxy defender Mauricio Cuevas to corral a long ball from Joaquín Pereyra, then beat keeper JT Marcinkowski cleanly.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ndiaye also declined to clear the ball, instead trying to thread a pass to retreating teammate Jake Dengler inside the 18-yard box.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Police said security footage from the store shows customers staring and retreating before 53-year-old Tammy Canut of North Huntingdon walks into the frame naked.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Residovic is heard exclaiming in the footage.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Clarkson can be heard exclaiming in a video shared online.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When a degraded grassland returns to health, the ground heaves up, as if inhaling with relief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Humans are evolutionarily designed for hunting and gathering — not for lifting 50-pound boxes for eight hours straight or inhaling toxic dust in an industrial sanding booth.—
Vivek Ranadive,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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But detainees inside the Adelanto facility who called the Immigrant Defenders rapid response hotline alleged that medical staff didn’t respond until after Ramos was unresponsive and that Ramos died inside the immigration detention facility, said an Immigrant Defenders spokesperson.—
Ryanne Mena,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
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Instead of hurrying to break up tents and scatter RVs, Lee and Oakland’s interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald want city workers to focus on minimizing trash and human waste around encampments.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Graham isn’t the only member of Congress to be seen fleeing town as soon as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson allowed them.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Police said Wang had slashed their throats and concocted a story about arriving home and shooting at a fleeing intruder responsible for the killings.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bolting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bolting. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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