bug out

verb

Definition of bug outnext
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug out
  1. retreat
  2. depart
  3. flee
  4. exit
  5. fly
  6. move
  7. bolt
  8. get
Verb
  • Hims & Hers Health — Shares of the digital health-care platform retreated 3.2% on the heels of a Citi downgrade to sell from neutral.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The federal police eventually retreated without arresting the impeached president.
    Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • Melvin succeeded Hoda Kotb, who announced her plan to depart last year and had her last day on Friday.
    Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2025
  • In this scenario, TikTok would die a slow death, as its technology degrades and its social fabric weakens with users departing for other platforms.
    Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025
Definition of depart
Verb
  • The report found that 5% of the camps were created right after the quake in 2010, while an overwhelming number have sprouted up in response to the widespread gang violence that has forced Haitians to flee their homes and neighborhoods.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Forecasters warned that fierce winds could return to the Los Angeles area Tuesday, threatening the progress made to combat the deadly wildfires that have destroyed neighborhoods and forced tens of thousands to flee from their homes.
    Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025
Definition of flee
Verb
  • Flowers exited with a pronounced limp, had a brief stay in the blue medical tent and then retreated to the locker room with team doctors.
    Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Suggs exited the game to applause from the fans at Scotiabank Arena.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
Definition of exit
Verb
  • Mash, a Russian Telegram channel thought to have links to Russian law enforcement, published footage purportedly showing a drone flying toward Engels overnight, which could not be independently verified.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Gonzalez Urrutia was leaving for Panama on Tuesday, and was planning to fly to the Dominican Republic on Thursday.
    Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of fly
Verb
  • The couple had just moved from their modest fixer-upper in Altadena’s Janes Village to their dream home in architect Gregory Ain’s Park Planned homes, when the Eaton fire roared to life.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat in part because the organ moves up and down while a patient is breathing, causing therapeutic radiation to impact the surrounding gastrointestinal tract.
    Forbes, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of move
Verb
  • One team has transformed its offense and bolted to the top of the standings.
    Fred Katz, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Timing himself to near perfection, the 36-year-old point guard bolted inside the arc, flying past three of his teammates and three of his opponents to snag the rebound.
    Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of bolt
Verb
  • People with low credit scores can also have trouble getting a loan or can be forced to borrow at higher interest rates.
    Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Biden's plan was to enable applicants to stay with their families while immigration officials determined their cases, touting it as a far more humane way to carry out the process and get more people green cards or permanent resident status.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Definition of get
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near bug out

bug off

bug out

bugs

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Bug out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20out. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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