1
as in protruded
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the dress bunches a bit at the waist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in huddled
to gather into a closely packed group
the slow service caused the customers at the pick-up counter to bunch up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bunched
Golden Tempo was bumped and bunched at the start and out of view for much of the race.
—
Gary B. Graves, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Towels left bunched up trap moisture, develop a musty smell and can transfer mildew to skin.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
When it stays bunched together, moisture gets trapped in the folds, creating the perfect environment for mildew and mold growth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
So Johnson reconfigured the Spurs’ spacing in the second half to put Wembanyama at the elbow and corner off the ball, often bunched up with a teammate, in an attempt to pull Portland’s centers away from the paint.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
These are reflected by the small circles bunched on either side of the strait.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Some 40 or 50 two and three-week-old calves bunched up and dropped behind the main body of caribou, and the black wolf was soon among them.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
And suddenly there’s traffic in their rear-view mirror, with four teams bunched no more than three points behind them in the Western Conference standings entering Sunday.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
For the next two hours, the whales remained bunched together.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Gary B. Graves, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Towels left bunched up trap moisture, develop a musty smell and can transfer mildew to skin.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
When it stays bunched together, moisture gets trapped in the folds, creating the perfect environment for mildew and mold growth.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
So Johnson reconfigured the Spurs’ spacing in the second half to put Wembanyama at the elbow and corner off the ball, often bunched up with a teammate, in an attempt to pull Portland’s centers away from the paint.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
These are reflected by the small circles bunched on either side of the strait.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Some 40 or 50 two and three-week-old calves bunched up and dropped behind the main body of caribou, and the black wolf was soon among them.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
And suddenly there’s traffic in their rear-view mirror, with four teams bunched no more than three points behind them in the Western Conference standings entering Sunday.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
For the next two hours, the whales remained bunched together.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bunched
Verb
-
The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
Under the flaps of his jacket there was a small tear in his T-shirt, directly over his left nipple, which protruded like a knot of purple rope.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
After more than a week huddled together in darkness, the five men trapped in a Laos cave received a message of hope when they were discovered by rescuers on Wednesday.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
The Game was meant to kick off at noon under a slate-gray sky, with a few snowflakes in the air and fans huddled up in the stands.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Even at the height of his fame, there were dubious aspects of his personal life — often self-seeded to sustain his enigma — that poked hellified holes in his impermeability as an entertainer.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
-
In the roadside planters, green sprouts poked up.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Here’s what the facility, located on a busy arterial crowded with large commercial vehicles, has looked like this week.—
David Williams,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
-
Many more friends and tavern regulars crowded into the room to find out how the board would vote with regard to Plyler’s agreement.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Her stomach bulged beneath her I ❤ FLORIDA boatneck and her face was round and waxy-pale.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Traders piled into Broadcom stock, betting on a huge guide that didn’t materialize.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
Cars and trucks piled into the roundabout, horns blaring.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Latinos are mostly clustered in and around Grand Junction, the largest metro hub between Denver and Salt Lake City.—
Ernesto Sagás,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
-
Barry Flanagan’s bronze hare, Roxy Paine’s Erratic, and Tony Smith’s Playground are clustered within easy distance of one another.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bunched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bunched. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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