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
-
Shards of glass and ceramic, rusted metal, medical and bio-waste, syringes, cracked circuit boards, and broken electronics protruded everywhere.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jocks and mean girls relished in the mainstream, while the freaks and losers huddled over video-game music and alt weirdness.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
-
One still image captured about two dozen flamingos huddled inside a zoo bathroom, the stall doors closed and the floor covered in straw.—
Douglas Hanks
May 6,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Hartman caught the pass and poked it low past Wedgewood while being buried by a Brent Burns check.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
-
Joshua poked me in the shoulder.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Seven candidates for California governor crowded a CNN debate stage in East Los Angeles on Tuesday, spending much of the two hours sparring and strategizing to gain an upper hand in a race that still remains fluid.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
5 May 2026
-
Bowls of Thai curry soup crowded with shrimp, scallops and clams.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Angelenos’ eyes bulged at the $1,500-a-head price tag.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Sixers were satisfied with their shot selection in the fourth quarter — even as the misses piled up.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Firefighters see blocked entry and exit points, counters piled high and no clear routes to leave the home in an emergency.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Much of the support for the Greens is clustered in cities.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
-
The staff is also happy to point you in the direction of some of the area’s best restaurants (many of which are clustered around the Bishop Arts District, a 15-minute walk away).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bunched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bunched. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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