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
Ani Duzdabanyan, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Parents and beauty enthusiasts alike praise its ability to smooth stubborn bumps and improve skin texture.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 14 June 2026
No amount of paint can hide cracked plaster, bumps, nail holes, or uneven textures.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
The Hornets can outbid any other team in total dollars, length and yearly bumps without worrying about the cap number.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
That means raising pay in real terms, not merely bestowing nominal bumps which can be wiped out by inflation.
—Randi Weingarten, Time, 11 June 2026
Scales are immobile for much of their life, appearing as small tan to gray bumps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Those rates of growth are also lower than the 66% and 130% bumps noted on May 25.
—Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
It is characterized by high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and rashes or bumps that appear seven to 14 days after exposure.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 June 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
Plates of chi kyufta, lean raw meat kneaded with bulgur, aromatics and spices, sit alongside enough caviar to accommodate bumps the size of golf balls for 450 guests.
—Ani Duzdabanyan, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Parents and beauty enthusiasts alike praise its ability to smooth stubborn bumps and improve skin texture.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 14 June 2026
No amount of paint can hide cracked plaster, bumps, nail holes, or uneven textures.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
The Hornets can outbid any other team in total dollars, length and yearly bumps without worrying about the cap number.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026
That means raising pay in real terms, not merely bestowing nominal bumps which can be wiped out by inflation.
—Randi Weingarten, Time, 11 June 2026
Scales are immobile for much of their life, appearing as small tan to gray bumps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Those rates of growth are also lower than the 66% and 130% bumps noted on May 25.
—Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
It is characterized by high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and rashes or bumps that appear seven to 14 days after exposure.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 June 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 American Breast Cancer Foundation urged men to be aware of any changes in their chest area, including nipple pain, lumps and swelling in the breast or underarm.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
-
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
Noun
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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
-
The current number of near-collisions is tough to pin down, as FAA data on drone-aircraft encounters is limited and difficult to verify.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
-
The overcrossing was designed to provide animals with a safer route across the highway while also reducing collisions involving motorists.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
When selecting the perfect of-the-moment style for you (Jane Birkin bangs?—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
-
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
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
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The trio also acknowledged how demoralizing and disheartening the recent spate of firings, and the lack of explanation for them, has been.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
11 June 2026
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Mass firings, communication freezes, political interference in the CDC’s scientific mission and a revolving door of leaders have created a challenging work environment for the CDC’s employees.—
Candice Johnson,
The Conversation,
10 June 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
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When the quartet collides in the film’s climactic fight, each has his own motivation and a reason to feel white-hot, incandescent rage.—
Andy Crump,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
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On Saturday, Knicks fever collides with the New York City area’s first World Cup game in 32 years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumps. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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