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
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2
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bump
Heather Barker, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
These generally appear as white bumps or specks that encrust the stems, branches, and undersides of leaves and suck the sap.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Betty Yee is bumping along near the bottom in California’s race for governor.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bump
Noun
At 100x magnification, the fusion crust had visible bumps in a variety of shapes and colors.
—Heather Barker, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
These generally appear as white bumps or specks that encrust the stems, branches, and undersides of leaves and suck the sap.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
The team would be wise to continue monitoring the free-agent tackle class and its options in the first or second round of the draft, which could bump Borom to a reserve or stopgap role.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Betty Yee is bumping along near the bottom in California’s race for governor.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bump
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bump
Noun
-
Panthoi was taken off on a stretcher with severe swelling on her face and Devi was briefly motionless on the ground before being taken off the field.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The sudden swelling of the nostril tissues affects the nasal cycle.—
Adam Taylor,
CNN Money,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This demotion remains a source of grief and camaraderie for the fanatical.—
David Allan,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Some of Ryan Walker’s skill indicators took a beating last season, which led to a lengthy demotion from the closer’s role in San Francisco.—
Al Melchior,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In June 2025, electronic interference with navigation systems was thought to be a factor in the collision between two oil tankers, Adalynn and Front Eagle, off the coast of the UAE, Bockmann and Faragher noted.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Even a single collision in orbit can become catastrophic; these satellites are moving at speeds many times faster than a rifle bullet, and a direct hit from one creates a cloud of shrapnel.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
On Tuesday, Freeny banged for loose balls and rebounds and helped limit Cornhuskers’ guard Pryce Sandfort to nine points on nine field-goal attempts.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My son, a lump of breath that fell into the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
And while some can work magic with a claw clip, others struggle to avoid lumps and bumps without invoking gels and wax.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But amid mass firings and shifting priorities, that role has waned.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
There just really simply has to be firings.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There was a sudden, loud thump, and Bernie Watermolen brought us awake with a yell that was enough to raise the dead.—
Doris DeCleene,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Pitchers and catchers report This week, Albernaz gets a glimpse of his pitching staff and catchers, before the thump of an offensive lineup joins the workouts.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
So in a way the frames from Euphoria will collide with the people walking in the show, so there will be this merging of the two perspectives.—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
-
More imminently, Krugman wrote war costs could collide with fears of artificial intelligence eradicating jobs—or eventually suffering a reversal in fortunes on the market, taking asset prices and business confidence down with it.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bump.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bump. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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