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

Under the proposal, residential customers would get weekly pickup of waste and organic material, biweekly recycling pickup and two bulky waste pickups per year. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

These atoms briefly grab passing lithium ions via temporary lithium-nitrogen bonds, stripping away bulky electrolyte solvent molecules and guiding them smoothly into the cathode active material. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

The dream is to embed sensors wherever they’re needed, such as deep in the gut or muscles, where there’s little room for the bulky battery that wireless communication demands. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026

Its sleek, compact all-in-one design delivers crystal-clear dialogue and deeper sound without requiring a separate, bulky subwoofer. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 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