as in poor
of low quality
that was bum advice that you got from that website
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits
I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in hobo
an idle worthless person
if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beggar
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living
I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
spent most of the summer just bumming around the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 bum
Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
Kentucky, vote the bum out on Tuesday.
—Quinn Scanlan, ABC News, 17 May 2026
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Action that doesn't get exhausting, humor that isn't repetitive and drama that won't bum you out, these shows go down easy and keep you hungry for more.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bum
Noun
In addition to being shown on the broadcast, the moment, which saw the fan's pants completely fall down and bare their bum, was seemingly blasted on the JumboTron inside the stadium based on the crowd's unanimous gasp in reaction to the full moon display from the fan.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
Kentucky, vote the bum out on Tuesday.
—Quinn Scanlan, ABC News, 17 May 2026
Verb
Officer Rory lets Greg go, but the combination of the walk and thinking about his daughter’s predicament has bummed him out.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026
Action that doesn't get exhausting, humor that isn't repetitive and drama that won't bum you out, these shows go down easy and keep you hungry for more.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bum
Adjective
-
Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.—
Monica Alba,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
-
Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?—
Arthur Cosby,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Noun
-
The product is typically marketed for consumers to use on the face (particularly the cheeks), buttocks and breasts, Coons shares.—
Alexandra Frost,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
-
Her cheeks boasted dewy, light pink glow, while her lips were lined in a dusty brown hue and dressed in nude gloss.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Per usual with movies like this, spelling out the terror (the roots are in hobo codes and religious legend) becomes, regrettably, a shock absorber, not a facilitator.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
-
Schneider plays David, a reticent young man with the soulful-hobo air of a Beat poet, who makes a living as an events photographer but whose private passion is a secretive lifelong project, inherited from his father, documenting the changing Parisian suburbs.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Antinous later shocked the other suitors by insulting and assaulting with a footstool an elderly beggar who had spoken to him in the palace hall.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For the ready-to-wear line, Tcherassi created signature striped dresses and cover-ups in deep blue guipure lace perfect for lounging around Capri.—
Alison Fox,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
-
You are encouraged to sit and lounge and read.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The pricier piece is often the cheaper one to own.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
-
That marks a shift from an older data-center playbook built around cheap land, fiber access and tax incentives, with power planning often becoming a constraint later in the process.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Davidson is more steeped in Democratic politics, including working for years as a political consultant and winning a county legislature seat in 2023.—
Chris McKenna,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
While other host cities have dealt with headlines about empty seats during the 2026 World Cup, KC’s stadium has been jam-packed for both of its tournament games so far.—
Dominick Williams,
Kansas City Star,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.—
Kirsten Grieshaber,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Almost all other passengers dine at the Britannia Restaurant, and there’s also a buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, with options for vegans, vegetarians and dairy dodgers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bum. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
