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

Eliminate possible bumps and bruises by using a pool noodle to cover sharp edges. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026

Educators say the road bumps that typically show up during the first week of school are resolved over the summer for students who enroll in the half-day program, which runs Monday through Friday from late May to late June. — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026

Verb

Then the truck bumped over a rut and the tape deck jumped to life. — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

The controversy only exploded the very next week when it was revealed the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) re-implemented a pilot program that bumped every girl who finished behind the trans athlete up by one spot on the podium. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Phrases Containing bump

• bump into
• bump off