Synonyms of bump

bump 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəmp 

1

as in swelling

a small rounded mass of swollen tissue

that's a nasty bump on your arm where you hit the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

• swelling
• lump
• bruise
• nodule
• node
• knot
• tumor
• growth
• hump
• wart
• blister
• welt
• hunch
• contusion
• chunk
• boil
• knob
• clump
• blob
• nub
• gob
• nugget
• hunk
• wad
• gobbet
• clod
• nubble

2

as in demotion

the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank

the bump was punishment for insubordination

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demotion
• firing
• reduction
• dismissal
• sacking
• humiliation
• downgrade
• layoff
• disrating
• debasement
• abasement

3

as in collision

a forceful coming together of two things

I felt the bump of the other car, but there was no damage to either vehicle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collision
• thump
• jolt
• shock
• crash
• impact
• slam
• slap
• blow
• kick
• pounding
• encounter
• concussion
• contact
• jounce
• hit
• knock
• impingement
• jar
• punch
• strike
• wallop
• smash
• hammering
• thrashing
• bashing
• buffet
• touch
• rap
• licking
• meeting
• pummeling
• clobbering
• battering
• bludgeoning
• lambasting

bump

2 of 2

verb

as in to bang

to come into usually forceful contact with something

that police officer bumped into me and should have apologized

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bang
• collide
• smash
• slam
• hit
• crash
• knock
• ram
• impact
• swipe
• impinge
• thud
• bounce
• strike
• bash
• scrape
• glance
• contact
• skip
• rebound
• push
• brush
• touch
• kiss
• sweep
• nudge
• shave
• land
• ricochet
• skim
• clunk
• graze
• muscle
• jostle
• carom
• press
• bulldoze

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• skirt

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bump

Noun

In cars, dampers are shock absorbers, the hydraulic suspenders attached to springs that keep vehicles rolling relatively smoothly over craters and bumps instead of ricocheting. — New Atlas, 24 July 2026

Apart from a cost-of-living bump of around 3 percent, Pepe said her salary has been essentially flat. — Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 24 July 2026

Verb

Other cooperative strategies include herding mobile rays, blocking an escape path while hunting white sharks, and deliberately producing waves to bump penguins off ice floes. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026

Marcus Garrett bumped knees with a KSU player in the first half and only played nine minutes, scoring five points. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

Phrases Containing bump

• bump into
• bump off