bugged out

verb

past tense of bug out
1
as in fled
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 departed
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 bugged out Matt, your eyes just really bugged out! — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugged out
  1. fled
  2. departed
  3. retreated
  4. exited
  5. bolted
  6. moved
  7. escaped
  8. got
Verb
  • In March 2024, Rice was involved in a high-speed multi-vehicle crash in Dallas, then fled the scene.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • The number of animals in his care has multiplied since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, as hundreds of thousands of southern Lebanon residents fled and were unable to take their pets or farm animals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of fled
Verb
  • The Netherlands team departed Kansas City early Wednesday, after losing their Round of 32 match, and Algeria officially left Lawrence, even though the team has yet to play its knockout match.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Barcelona views Alvarez as their primary target to fill the void left by Robert Lewandowski, who recently departed for Chicago Fire.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of departed
Verb
  • Meghan and Harry retreated from the royal spotlight in 2020, sparking global controversy and dividing opinion in Britain.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • McBreairty then retreated into the riverbed, and SWAT officers were called in to assist with the search, as were members of the Police Department’s Emergency Negotiation Team.
    — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026
Definition of retreated
Verb
  • The autopsy also found that a gunshot wound entered Wiley on the right side of his chest and exited on the left side of his chest, Crump said.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Getty Images Two more players have exited the FC Barcelona first team fold with the start of a new month.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of exited
Verb
  • Against Seattle, the Storm bolted to a 21-13 lead after one quarter and held firm from there.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Oregon and Washington soon bolted, also for the Big Ten, and eventually Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah joined the Big 12, and Cal and Stanford joined the ACC.
    — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of bolted
Verb
  • Kaskaskia’s dwindling number of citizens moved inland, to the center of the island.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of moved
Verb
  • William Carney, a man who escaped slavery to become a Union soldier in the Civil War and who was awarded the Medal of Honor for protecting the American flag from touching the ground during battle.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Born enslaved in Maryland, Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) escaped to the North and emerged as the nation’s leading abolitionist and major literary political figure of his time.
    — Melia Patria, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of escaped
Verb
  • Three players who logged heavy minutes in the two previous games -- Vlad Goldin, Jahmir Young and Trevor Keels -- got the night off.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • And the Dodgers got another shot, with Pages on second to start the inning.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of got

Browse Nearby Words

bugged off
bugged out
bugger
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Cite this Entry

“Bugged out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugged%20out. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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