1
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the sides of the returning camper's suitcase bulged with a month's worth of dirty laundry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in swollen
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in bursting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bulging
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Dec. 2021
Indian streamer ALTBalaji has revealed a focus on the burgeoning Indian youth market and a bulging slate.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2021
Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
And then there’s a decision to be made between Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR – giving Seattle a geographic partner that would cut down its bulging air travel bill.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bulging
Verb
And the big, bulging, muscles that let Hulk SMASH so effectively aren't the same as carrying a lot of excess fat.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Dec. 2021
Indian streamer ALTBalaji has revealed a focus on the burgeoning Indian youth market and a bulging slate.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2021
Adjective
Drahi’s personal pocket was now bulging with art.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
And then there’s a decision to be made between Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR – giving Seattle a geographic partner that would cut down its bulging air travel bill.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bulging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulging
Verb
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Sharks are often imagined cruising just beneath the waves, dorsal fin protruding from the dark, ocean waters to alert people of their incoming doom.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Eventually, the villager spotted something unexpected—the nearly complete cranium of an unknown, ancient hominin protruding from a small chamber’s interior wall.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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An affectionate little cat with a heart bursting with love for humans is looking for a home at a Texas shelter.—
TJ Macias,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Sep. 2025
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The novel sparkles with Sosa’s signature wit and sense of humor; the banter between Javi and Mari is deliciously funny, bursting with laugh-out-loud moments on seemingly every other page.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This can also be caused by a lack of sleep—which also comes with risks of chronic fatigue, thinning hair and swollen lower eyelids.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Trump’s apparently swollen ankles, which were photographed at the FIFA Club World Cup Final in July, have been connected to the condition.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Gavras, working from a script he co-wrote with Pulitzer-finalist playwright Will Arbery, seems to be poking fun at the vacuous postures of the oligarch class, just as Ruben Östlund and many other filmmakers have in recent years.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
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New Bayern Munich signing Luis Díaz strolled down the left flank before cutting inside and poking a cross along the six-yard line.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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South America is buzzing with debates over whether Maduro should be exiled or imprisoned.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
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On the Gran Vía, Belle Époque façades meet grand theaters and glittering shops buzzing into the night.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Whereas Vaslav’s unorthodox looks infatuated many people, hers (protuberant teeth and lips, stocky body, flat chest, powerful thighs) alienated many.—
Alastair Macaulay,
The New York Review of Books,
29 Dec. 2022
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And the rear of the case is deeper to accommodate a protuberant rear camera—hinting that the next iPad will see a big camera upgrade.—
David Phelan,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Streamline applications with pre-filled forms, especially to support internal mobility where workloads are high or digital access is limited.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The photo clearly shows the feline's dilated pupils and ears backward, which is exactly what cats look like when mad.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, Angelo’s crooked corset, Joan’s shredded gown, and team leader Ethan’s bizarre jumpsuit — which reminds Law of a dilated cervix — end up on the bottom.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bulging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bulging. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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