bulky

adjective

ˈbəl-kē 

also ˈbu̇l-

bulkier; bulkiest

1

a

: having bulk

b(1)

: large of its kind

(2)

: corpulent

2

: having great volume in proportion to weight

a bulky knit sweater

bulkily

ˈbəl-kə-lē 

adverb

bulkiness

ˈbəl-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of bulky

• large
• sizable
• substantial
• oversize
• considerable
• big
• handsome
• huge

Examples of bulky in a Sentence

a big, bulky football player

bulky packages might cost more to mail

Recent Examples on the Web

Bruins head coach Mick Cronin and his staff brought him along, leaning into his strengths as a bulkier, 200-pound guard. —Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 28 Mar. 2026

The San Diego task force now en route to the Middle East is composed of three bulky and brutish vessels. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

Dillon and Crossman eschewed bulkier, if more historically accurate, spacesuits, departing from the Andy Weir novel. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2026

Many grasses evolved to be partly dispersed by herbivorous mammals, the seeds passing through guts with the bulky leafy tissue. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bulky

• sulky

Kids Definition

bulky

adjective

ˈbəl-kē 

bulkier; bulkiest

1

: large in size or mass

2

: being large and hard to handle

bulkiness noun