1
as in lumps
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
as in demotions
the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank
the bump was punishment for insubordination
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in collisions
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 bangs
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 bumps
Tim Grant, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Hard Shell China Storage Containers help protect delicate dinnerware from pressure, impact and accidental bumps.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
There have been some bumps along the way, mainly the season-opening loss to New Orleans, but there’s no doubt Dixon has gotten the most out of this roster.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
Whatever bumps or rock flakes the cliff once had were buffed smooth by glacial erosion over the course of millions of years.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Ratings for the State of the Union declined this year, so the boost in weekend viewing with the onset of the war likely contributed to the bumps for MS Now and CNN.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Center Jeremy Foumena missed several games with a lower leg injury, while Stillwell and Kugel have also been dealing with their own bumps and bruises.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
In regards to the tiara in question, Harry notes miscommunication and a last-minute exchange with Queen Elizabeth’s dresser, Angela Kelly, that led to bumps in the road.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
This Cavaliers team, built on the fly after Odom was hired in March 2025, has had but four bumps on the road this season, but one was a pretty big bump.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
A day when the Stanley Cup years finally ride the synaptic road back to long-term memory and the brain finally bumps the past for the present.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Epic Pass typically bumps its prices two to three times before sales end in early December.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
Overtime bumps their rate to $60.
—Tim Grant, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
Hard Shell China Storage Containers help protect delicate dinnerware from pressure, impact and accidental bumps.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
There have been some bumps along the way, mainly the season-opening loss to New Orleans, but there’s no doubt Dixon has gotten the most out of this roster.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
Whatever bumps or rock flakes the cliff once had were buffed smooth by glacial erosion over the course of millions of years.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
Ratings for the State of the Union declined this year, so the boost in weekend viewing with the onset of the war likely contributed to the bumps for MS Now and CNN.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Center Jeremy Foumena missed several games with a lower leg injury, while Stillwell and Kugel have also been dealing with their own bumps and bruises.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026
In regards to the tiara in question, Harry notes miscommunication and a last-minute exchange with Queen Elizabeth’s dresser, Angela Kelly, that led to bumps in the road.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
This Cavaliers team, built on the fly after Odom was hired in March 2025, has had but four bumps on the road this season, but one was a pretty big bump.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX will start at $99,995, excluding a mandatory $2,595 destination fee that bumps the price to $102,590.
—Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
A day when the Stanley Cup years finally ride the synaptic road back to long-term memory and the brain finally bumps the past for the present.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Epic Pass typically bumps its prices two to three times before sales end in early December.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumps
Noun
-
Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and buttermilk, beating just until no large lumps remain.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Most lumps such as these are noncancerous lipomas, or fatty tumors, and a decision on whether to remove them is based on whether the lumps interfere with movements or threaten other issues.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Newark, 49 sergeants and 23 lieutenants who manage and supervise departments could face demotions if the results of their 2019 civil service exams are thrown out, according to the president of the city's Superior Officers' Association.—
Christine Sloan,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
-
An attorney for two other administrators who sued over their demotions said Monday that their lawsuit is still pending.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Traffic collisions totaled 1,404, a 25% increase from 2024 and 10 traffic fatalities, compared to six in 2024.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Alongside these head-on collisions, particles also produce a constant stream of near-miss events.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Infection is rapid, causing swellings in the lymph nodes (buboes) and leading to septicaemia and pulmonary infection.—
Matthew Binnicker,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This is a path that flies Orion to lunar space on a direct path back to Earth to avoid the need for any major firings of the spacecraft's engine after its translunar injection burn that will put it on a course for the moon.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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In these latest cuts, some of the other firings were in sales, recruiting, and Facebook, signaling that Zuckerberg is separating the chaff in non-AI related units beyond its flailing Metaverse division.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That flashback thread unfolds against the twilight of British colonial rule, as the impending disbanding of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force’s Special Branch collides with the kidnapping of a prominent business tycoon, triggering a dangerous internal power struggle.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
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The story of Megyn Kelly’s transformation is, in many ways, the story of what happens when a traditional television career collides with the influencer economy — and loses, then adapts.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumps. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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