Definition of protrusionnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word protrusion different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of protrusion are bulge, projection, and protuberance. While all these words mean "an extension beyond the normal line or surface," protrusion suggests a thrusting out so that the extension seems a deformity.

the bizarre protrusions of a coral reef

When is it sensible to use bulge instead of protrusion?

The meanings of bulge and protrusion largely overlap; however, bulge suggests an expansion caused by internal pressure.

bulges in the tile floor

When is projection a more appropriate choice than protrusion?

The synonyms projection and protrusion are sometimes interchangeable, but projection implies a jutting out especially at a sharp angle.

those projections along the wall are safety hazards

When would protuberance be a good substitute for protrusion?

The words protuberance and protrusion can be used in similar contexts, but protuberance implies a growing or swelling out in rounded form.

a skin disease marked by warty protuberances

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 protrusion The female’s back is covered in small protrusions that resemble popped kernels of popcorn, inspiring its genus name Zea, derived from the corn plant. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025 This protein is needed for the formation of cilia — hairlike protrusions that cells can use to move — as well as in the assembly of the mitotic spindle that organizes chromosomes during cell division, and for the transport of neurotransmitters in neurons. Quanta Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025 Karst formations, a porous rock, stick out as jagged protrusions in between lush forest and provide plenty of places for small creatures to hide. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025 Their name comes from the unique protrusions on their back that resemble horns and serve as a defense mechanism against predators including other sharks, elephant seals and some large fish. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for protrusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protrusion
Noun
  • At the top of the team scoring projections and the timing board, the CIF Southern Section Division 1 swimming championships looked familiar at several spots on Saturday.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
  • The resort unveils new and updated features every year—in 2026, look for Aquavia Lumina, a nighttime walk through a canyon with lights, projections, and music that immerses you in a story world.
    Jess Hoffert, Midwest Living, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • As does the Buddha’s Hand, a pulp-less lemon with fragrant, yellowy finger-like protuberances best for zesting, candying, and making infusions for teas, simple syrups, marinades, and libations.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Described as bright green with small protuberances on its back, the frog belongs to the Gastrotheca genus, a group of marsupial frogs found in Central and South America.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Those who have had pain in their pubic region while coughing, lifting objects or bending or who have noticed a bulge in their abdomen are encouraged to this screening and education event.
    Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
  • Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Costa Mesa outdistanced Westlake by 53 points to claim its first section crown and highlight a record-setting second day of the section championships.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
  • In 1980, 35 people were killed when a freighter rammed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay in Florida, causing a 1,300-foot section of the southbound span to collapse.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • Following months of earthquakes and eruptions, a lava dome collapsed on Mount Unzen in Japan.
    USA Today, USA Today, 6 May 2026
  • Johnson’s latest Springfield visit comes as his office’s lobbying efforts under the dome have been criticized by even legislative Democrats as ineffective.
    Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Using parchment overhangs, lift out of pan; let cool completely on rack.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
  • The kitchen area features a peninsula with an overhang that allows for seating additional people, and there is ample counter space for several chefs to work without getting in each other’s way.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • Today, convexity, which can be more expensive, is used earlier and some experts recommend a convexity-first approach after ostomy surgery.
    Diego Schaps, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The tower flaunts its partnership with the Dime Savings Bank, sending the 1908 landmark’s geometrical exuberance rocketing upward in a play of convexities and concavities, glass and trim, darkness and gleam.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The court struck down that portion of the legislation, a move that infuriated Cindy's family.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Hillsborough commissioner Joshua Wostal has proposed using a tourist development tax to pay the county’s portion of construction, but that would require the Rays to pay all the upfront costs for construction and get reimbursed with public funds over the next 35 years.
    John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Protrusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protrusion. Accessed 10 May. 2026.

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