BUMPING Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

bumping

verb

present participle of bump

as in banging

to come into usually forceful contact with something that police officer bumped into me and should have apologized

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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 bumping In this case, safe meant a track big enough for two riders to race without bumping into each other. — Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 Hurd was seen fist-bumping another attacker moments after deputies intervened, Madden Ragland said. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 Scotland fans are in Miami for the national team’s World Cup match against Brazil on Wednesday and many attended Monday’s series opener bumping the attendance to 20,008. — ABC News, 22 June 2026 The team initially brought McCollum off the bench before bumping him intothe starting unit after the All-Star break. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 21 June 2026 Hemani’s case landed at a time when state cannabis laws and federal gun rules are bumping heads more than ever. — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Use light pressure when rubbing the skin, and avoid washing multiple peaches at once to prevent them from bumping into each other. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 June 2026 This last concern, which could’ve effectively sabotaged anybody trying to train competing models by quietly bumping them down to less powerful models without their knowledge, proved controversial enough for Anthropic to change its mind. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 11 June 2026 Gilman pulled rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen to the ground after a catch, later bumping rookie running back Emmett Johnson hard enough that Johnson’s helmet popped off. — Pete Sweeney june 11, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumping

Verb

And on bikes no-one sane would ever consider banging around a racetrack on.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
After the game, Haaland led the players with a Norwegian row at midfield, banging a drum with a giant smile on his face.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of banging

Verb

Prosecutors allege Clay intentionally drove his car onto the sidewalk, sped toward a crowd of pedestrians and hit eight of them before slamming into a gate.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Paul has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.

— Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

Definition of slamming

Verb

Djokovic became so frustrated that he was given a code violation warning for smashing a racket, before eventually hauling himself over the line.

— Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 5 July 2026
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan joined in the fun Friday, serving and smashing with a paddle in a San Jose Earthquakes jersey.

— Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Definition of smashing

Verb

Ten miles south of Deetjen’s, set outdoors above the crashing surf of a secluded beach cove, the massages at wellness mecca Esalen Institute are legendary.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Jáminton Campaz got the ball past Miro Muheim before the two collided, sending the Colombian crashing to the ground.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Definition of crashing

Verb

Other threats against such large events include a potential vehicle-ramming attack or a mass shooting.

— Christopher Cann, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Footage from outdoor security cameras on the woman's home shows that the car was moving at a high speed before ramming into the home.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 23 June 2026

Definition of ramming

Verb

Besides hitting their price target — about $350 per square foot — Talbot and his wife, Marisol, were taken with the modern design with a 14-foot clerestory ceiling.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
To the moon All the political developments of the last 24 hours have not stopped stocks, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting 53,000 for the first time ever.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 July 2026

Definition of hitting

Browse Nearby Words

bumpers

bumping

bumping into

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“Bumping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumping. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of bumping

verb

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