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
Relevance
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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From rollbacks on reproductive rights in the U.S. to the dismantling of environmental protections and the amplification of xenophobia, governments are retreating from their responsibilities to protect vulnerable communities and future generations.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025 -
Crypto stocks — Stocks linked to the price of bitcoin fell after the cryptocurrency retreated around 3% to hover around the $80,000 level.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Now, the beloved brand is entering a new phase: departing from the L’Oréal umbrella to be independently-owned once again.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
4 Mar. 2025
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United 5690 had departed Springfield, Missouri, en route to Houston at 4:48 p.m. and made an emergency landing an hour and 40 minutes later at Waco Regional Airport.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In May 2023, while awaiting trial in a Virginia jail, Marin-Sotelo and another inmate managed to escape, with Marin-Sotelo fleeing to Mexico.—
Max Saltman,
CNN,
3 Mar. 2025
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The mother of a woman killed when an unlicensed driver crashed his Mercedes-Benz into a school bus in Brooklyn is calling for justice after police said the driver fled the scene in a taxi, leaving her daughter to die in the front seat.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Security camera footage showed the two suspects entering the apartment building at about 4:24 p.m. Monday and going to the door of the apartment, then exiting from a rear staircase at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to the incident report.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2025
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Stansbury recorded a video shared on Instagram while exiting the Capitol elaborating on the succinct message of her sign.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But when the goodbyes were over, Norris got a plane and flew down to meet the Sabres in South Florida.—
Matthew Fairburn,
The Athletic,
9 Mar. 2025
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Colored powder was flying in the air on Sunday in Scripps Ranch during a Holi festival put on by a San Diego nonprofit for the first time.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, researchers who study ancient Earth were previously uncertain whether Neoproterozoic glaciers moved at all, let alone enough to erode the ground beneath them and transfer minerals into the sea.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN,
26 Feb. 2025
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The start of a new year is a time for planning, embracing change and moving forward.—
Kristjan Vilosius,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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After standing behind Hamilton for years, the first Wicked album bolted to No. 1 yet again on the Cast Albums ranking this past fall.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Four-star edge rusher Rico Walker, the top Maryland recruit in the 2023 cycle, bolted after one season and is at Auburn.—
Grace Raynor,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Watkins made some bad decisions in traffic, and the Bruins were able to get away with some contact in the paint.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
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Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 2025.
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