bulbous

adjective

Definition of bulbousnext
as in rounded
resembling a bulb in roundness often in an unattractive way a big, bulbous nose

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 bulbous While the design was certainly understated, there was a touch of whimsy in the bulbous light fixtures and swirly, contemporary art pieces. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026 Behind the glass sat a sea-foam green Hermes 3000, a pre-1966 model, instantly recognizable by its bulbous body and soft, swelling curves. — Literary Hub, 2 June 2026 Everyone is bulbous, stringy, or malformed. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Before 2014, bull kelp—a whip-like kelp with bulbous air bladders and trailing blades —stretched across Northern California’s coastline in dense tangles. — Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bulbous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulbous
  1. rounded
  2. round
Adjective
  • The rounded back, thick arms and curved footprint give it a sculptural, cloudlike appearance that feels more high-end than its $999 price tag suggests.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
  • Hornbill’s handle has a broader, more rounded profile designed to fill the palm rather than simply rest between the fingers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
Definition of rounded
Adjective
  • The potential path is long and demanding, starting with the visit of Pyunik on Wednesday evening for a first qualifying round clash that will see the winners take on either Northern Ireland’s Glentoran or Latvian side Riga.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • That set the stage for his post-round media availability, where, naturally, he was asked again about the DeChambeau ruling.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of round

Browse Nearby Words

built up
bulbous
bulge
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bulbous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bulbous. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bulbous

Nglish: Translation of bulbous for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All