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
Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Employees who keep the county’s bus fleet moving received notable pay bumps last year.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
There have been other bumps in the road, but other than the odd trade dispute or some difference over intellectual property, this has been a relationship that has been moving on an upward trajectory.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025
In other developments, Amy bumps into Michael and his baby boy after the new dad had gone overboard with medical tests to try and prevent a tragedy like the one that took his and Amy’s son Danny.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
My 10-year-old even worked up the nerve to follow her sister down Jack Rabbit Alley, a run with small bumps, wagons, and teepees to ski through.
—Grace Bastidas, Parents, 29 Sep. 2025
Overwashing, particularly with down and cotton, can weaken the fibers and compress the batting, says Holmes, which can cause lumps and bumps in your once cozy comforter.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
However, Wintour admitted the relationship at times hit some bumps, especially when Armani felt he was neglected by Vogue.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2025
But Edward, with the help of their family’s fixer, Sean Rafferty (James Norton), manages to successfully navigate these bumps on the road to expansion.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
Heat, bumps and slow tire warmup can still pull the RB21 out of its downforce-and-traction lane, so qualifying and track position set the ceiling.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Employees who keep the county’s bus fleet moving received notable pay bumps last year.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
There have been other bumps in the road, but other than the odd trade dispute or some difference over intellectual property, this has been a relationship that has been moving on an upward trajectory.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025
In other developments, Amy bumps into Michael and his baby boy after the new dad had gone overboard with medical tests to try and prevent a tragedy like the one that took his and Amy’s son Danny.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
My 10-year-old even worked up the nerve to follow her sister down Jack Rabbit Alley, a run with small bumps, wagons, and teepees to ski through.
—Grace Bastidas, Parents, 29 Sep. 2025
Overwashing, particularly with down and cotton, can weaken the fibers and compress the batting, says Holmes, which can cause lumps and bumps in your once cozy comforter.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
However, Wintour admitted the relationship at times hit some bumps, especially when Armani felt he was neglected by Vogue.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2025
But Edward, with the help of their family’s fixer, Sean Rafferty (James Norton), manages to successfully navigate these bumps on the road to expansion.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumps
Noun
-
Overwashing, particularly with down and cotton, can weaken the fibers and compress the batting, says Holmes, which can cause lumps and bumps in your once cozy comforter.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
-
And wait a minute, these are real lumps.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Some of the agents had been reassigned earlier this year, in what were widely seen as demotions, The Washington Post reported.—
Huo Jingnan,
NPR,
27 Sep. 2025
-
The airline has already announced furloughs and demotions of hundreds of pilots.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As a report from Gizmodo explains, this is the name given to the portion of the belt made up of asteroids small enough to be involved in frequent collisions and dynamical ejections.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Four pedestrians were killed in collisions last year in the city.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sheep alien bangs its head on the glass in the nextdoor cell, startling Tootles, who falls over and spills the tray.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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In the leadup to the deadline to fund the government this week, the White House directed agencies to prepare for mass firings in the event that Congress couldn’t reach a deal, rather than furloughing those not deemed essential as in past shutdowns.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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Of the 55 firings, 18 resulted in the school finding itself in the AP Poll sometime in the following season.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Family drama collides with environmental urgency.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
-
That framing matters because inference is where AI collides with day-to-day usage.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Despite sustaining some minor injuries — Ethan sustained several cuts, scrapes and bruises while Brandon sustained a small burn on his forehead and scarring on his hands — the pair escaped relatively unscathed, physically.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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During the encounters, the women suffered significant pain, including bruises and psychological trauma, and sometimes required medical treatment, according to prosecutors.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumps. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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