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
Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
The Flames endured some early season bumps but put it together at the right time and beat Southern Illinois 7-2 on Sunday in the MVC Tournament final.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Several price target bumps from Baird, JPMorgan, and Barclays.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 May 2026
The moments of joy, love, and genuine pleasure available this month are more than enough to override any bumps along the way.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
Finally, strategic upsells, downsells, and order bumps are designed to double order value post-sale.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
People may experience redness, swelling and little bumps on the inside of the eyelids.
—Neelam Patadia, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
Thaumelodone octopuses are covered with small bumps, or papillae, but the little blue octopus was smooth.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 25 May 2026
As playoff bumps and bruises go, there aren’t many injuries tougher to play through this time of year than a high ankle sprain.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The department bumps the call to a higher-priority response (Priority 1) due to the potential for violence.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
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
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
Vegas had some bumps getting through Utah and Anaheim, then had no trouble with the banged-up and battered Avalanche.
—Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
The Flames endured some early season bumps but put it together at the right time and beat Southern Illinois 7-2 on Sunday in the MVC Tournament final.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Several price target bumps from Baird, JPMorgan, and Barclays.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 May 2026
The moments of joy, love, and genuine pleasure available this month are more than enough to override any bumps along the way.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
Finally, strategic upsells, downsells, and order bumps are designed to double order value post-sale.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
People may experience redness, swelling and little bumps on the inside of the eyelids.
—Neelam Patadia, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
Thaumelodone octopuses are covered with small bumps, or papillae, but the little blue octopus was smooth.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 25 May 2026
As playoff bumps and bruises go, there aren’t many injuries tougher to play through this time of year than a high ankle sprain.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Verb
Did join Kylian Mbappe and Ferenc Puskas as one of only three players to score a European Cup knockout-phase brace against Barcelona at Camp Nou, which bumps him up the list a bit.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
The department bumps the call to a higher-priority response (Priority 1) due to the potential for violence.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
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
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
-
The question becomes whether the Blues want to bring in a reinforcement now or let their recent high draft picks take their lumps.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
This fermentation process separates the milk into curds (the thicker lumps of cheese) and whey (the liquid portion).—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
The cautionary tales are bottomless, from Reading and Blackburn Rovers’ respective demotions in England two seasons ago to FC Girondins de Bordeaux and ASJ Soyaux in France, who this year were forced to collapse due to structural vulnerabilities.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Word of the demotions came early in the spring semester, but the cuts take effect on July 1.—
Katie Servas,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
To sail through the strait without being detected by Iran, many ships are turning off their Automatic Identification Systems, which are navigational beacons that broadcast their positions to avoid collisions.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
Human encroachment on wildlife habitat — along with other threats such as car collisions, rat poison and disease — are threatening the population across the state.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Teal'c takes out some frustrations on an unlucky grunt who bangs him with a door at the start of every time loop, and O'Neill gets to (temporarily) sample the will-they side of his will-they-won't-they relationship with Carter.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Another bangs his head against the wall after expressing suicidal thoughts.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 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
-
The allegations include racial harassment, discriminatory assignments, pay inequality, retaliation, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, and unequal treatment in areas including discipline, promotions, firings, and constructive discharges.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
-
There’s no telling where the Red Sox would have been at this point if the firings hadn’t happened.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Agents yelled from every direction, and the thumps of a news helicopter overhead were deafening.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
You’ll be thrown around in your seat, which moves in sync with the action, along with thumps in the back, splashes of water, blasts of air, smoke, and flashes of light.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Here the proposal collides with how corporate borrowing actually works.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Los Angeles is one place where all this bounty collides.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumps. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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