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
Relevance
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
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 bumps
Evan Clark, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
So, how to address razor bumps in the first place?
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 18 May 2026
But this didn't come without some bumps in the road, years after what Pacific Pinball Museum president Larry Zartarian says was the golden age, from the 1940's to the '60's.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 16 May 2026
The track, a circular loop with bumps and banked turns, can be used by bike riders, skateboarders and those riding scooters.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
D’Amaro has weathered a few bumps in his initial weeks on the job, however, among them the Bachelor meltdown, new attacks on Jimmy Kimmel, layoffs and the demise of a deal with OpenAI that was made on Iger’s watch.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 May 2026
The cushions haven’t sagged, the corners haven’t weathered despite enduring many bumps, and the navy hue hasn’t faded at all.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026
No one who flew Spirit was doing caviar bumps in a lounge.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
In a bathroom stall, between bumps of cocaine, Michael tells Sherri about his rocky childhood.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 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
While Saks Global went into bankruptcy in January with plenty of bumps, the ride is getting smoother.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 18 May 2026
So, how to address razor bumps in the first place?
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 18 May 2026
But this didn't come without some bumps in the road, years after what Pacific Pinball Museum president Larry Zartarian says was the golden age, from the 1940's to the '60's.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 16 May 2026
The track, a circular loop with bumps and banked turns, can be used by bike riders, skateboarders and those riding scooters.
—Heather McRea, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
D’Amaro has weathered a few bumps in his initial weeks on the job, however, among them the Bachelor meltdown, new attacks on Jimmy Kimmel, layoffs and the demise of a deal with OpenAI that was made on Iger’s watch.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 May 2026
The cushions haven’t sagged, the corners haven’t weathered despite enduring many bumps, and the navy hue hasn’t faded at all.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026
No one who flew Spirit was doing caviar bumps in a lounge.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
In a bathroom stall, between bumps of cocaine, Michael tells Sherri about his rocky childhood.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 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
-
Adding the grits to the pot slowly while stirring is key to the dish's creaminess and no lumps.—
Emma Ashe,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
The Huskies, after winning the Big East championship and playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 24 years, took some losses in the transfer portal and took their lumps in the early season southern and western swings, losing 10 of their first 12 games.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
But the plaintiffs’ concerns were ignored and, in 2019, the department retaliated by starting Internal Affairs investigations and imposing a series of negative work actions against the officers, including demotions, removals from specialized assignments and involuntary transfers, suit stated.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, about 17% of those severely injured by traffic collisions in Sacramento County were 20 years old or younger.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2026
-
Rather than collisions caused by surrounding traffic, these incidents involved the vehicle misjudging objects directly in its path.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 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 firings come on top of huge cuts to the NSF’s budget and the loss of more than 30% of NSF staff since January 2025.—
Gautam Mukunda,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
-
Critics say the problem has only been compounded by a raft of cuts and firings and by the broader disruption brought by Kennedy’s health policies.—
Ali Swenson,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Historic power collides with modern reality The King’s Speech merges the historic power and grandeur of Britain with the reality of the modern United Kingdom, a midsized country with an underfunded military, rising debt and waning international influence.—
Pan Pylas,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
The timing of the hearing — after several delays — collides with Becerra’s momentum in the governor’s race.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumps. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
