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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bumps
Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 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
The terms of that agreement included a one-time $1,500 bonus and 5% raises in the first two years of the contract, followed by salary bumps equal to the Consumer Price Index capped at 5% for the last two years of the contract.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
The relationship between Modano and the Stars took some bumps, but the feelings were resolved over time.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
That process figures to feature a few bumps.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
Everton’s season has been positive, but has not been without its bumps.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 4 May 2026
After numerous bumps along the way while pregnant, including developing a subchorionic haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia, doctors recommended Maddicyn terminate her pregnancy.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 2 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 Amazon has successfully courted high fashion brands over the years like Coach, there were a few bumps on the road.
—Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 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
The terms of that agreement included a one-time $1,500 bonus and 5% raises in the first two years of the contract, followed by salary bumps equal to the Consumer Price Index capped at 5% for the last two years of the contract.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
The relationship between Modano and the Stars took some bumps, but the feelings were resolved over time.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
That process figures to feature a few bumps.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
Everton’s season has been positive, but has not been without its bumps.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 4 May 2026
After numerous bumps along the way while pregnant, including developing a subchorionic haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia, doctors recommended Maddicyn terminate her pregnancy.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 2 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
-
The one exception is cocoa powder; those lumps need to be broken up.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
10 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
-
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
-
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
Noun
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Similar giant elliptical basins exist on Mars and even Pluto, meaning the new modeling approach could help scientists reinterpret collisions across the solar system.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
-
The teen’s death is the latest in a spate of serious collisions involving electric motorcycles and dirt bikes — some of which have led to serious injuries, death or charges for parents who allegedly allowed their minors to illegally ride the speedy devices.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 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
-
Resignations, firings and transfers reduced the 36-person section to two.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
1 May 2026
-
The distinguished scientists and engineers who made up the National Science Board did not know the firings were coming.—
Caroline Wagner,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown, neighbors can still hear the thumps.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the process, the material collides, compresses, and heats up to extreme temperatures, producing vast amounts of radiation.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
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The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumps. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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