bunched

verb

past tense of bunch
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

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 bunched Along the way, there are a smattering of sea days, typically bunched together in two- or three-day chunks. — Megan Dubois, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026 He's shifted the entire orchestra closer to the front of the stage at David Geffen Hall and had their seats bunched closer together. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026 Harold’s men waded into water with their tunics bunched around their bare thighs. — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026 The designer believes that the gown got bunched up during Diana’s carriage ride to the church. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 29 July 2026 Skylrk Slouchy Socks bunched above a pair of unreleased Matter Daddy sneakers in the Latte colorway, while Speed Demon sunglasses in Jet supplied the narrow black frames. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 19 July 2026 Spain, England and Argentina are all a solid amount behind France in the odds, but are tightly bunched among themselves. — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 13 July 2026 The sides are also bunched together in the NWSL table, with Orlando in eighth place and ACFC a point behind in ninth position. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026 In the top of the second, the Dodgers bunched four hits, all singles — the first by Hernández, beating out an infield single in his first at-bat since the hamstring injury — to take a 2-0 lead. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bunched
  1. protruded
  2. huddled
  3. poked
  4. crowded
  5. bulged
  6. piled
  7. clustered
Verb
  • The stranger’s hollow cheeks, his dark eyes, whose lashes always appeared wet, the bony shoulders that protruded from the singlet Chee Meng had lent him—all of it frightened Shawn.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In several looks, the hips protruded impressively outward, but the silhouette appeared more subtle and somewhat suitable for everyday wear in the label’s delicate camisole tops.
    — Kelly Niesen, Glamour, 24 July 2026
Definition of protruded
Verb
  • Photos shared on social media showed dozens of construction workers huddled together.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The hockey star stayed down on the ice for a few moments as teammates huddled around him, and Faber eventually stood up and skated off the ice on his own.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of huddled
Verb
  • Gray-green eyes poked up from its small, round shell, which was the color of sand, and its legs made a soft, scuttling sound.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Flip and continue to cook until the flesh begins to flake when poked with a fork, 1 to 2 minutes.
    — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of poked
Verb
  • Imperceptibly, Jupiter crowded along, nearer and nearer to the big light of the night.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Those around her unzip their tents after a night of little sleep on a square normally crowded with tourists.
    — Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of crowded
Verb
  • By later in the day, the second lake had bulged — sparking fears of another lethal torrent.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • My husband Grant Wahl's bulged and burst, at an age when this disease usually means something inherited.
    — Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of bulged
Verb
  • With the throne disengaged from governance, petitions and reports from officials piled up unread, crucial state posts went unfilled, and the imperial bureaucracy splintered amid poisonous factional infighting.
    — Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Richland lost a 45-42 heartbreaker to Highland Park at Birdville FA/AC after UCLA commit Jayshon Gibson — who piled up 273 rushing yards and five total touchdowns — left the game with cramps late in the fourth quarter.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of piled
Verb
  • Elderly couples surrounded us in somber ceremony, each of them in seats clustered close to one another, some holding hands, their fingers dusted in crumb cake.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Smoky gray crystals are clustered along the ends of each nail, creating a glitzy take on the classic French manicure with a bit more edge.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of clustered

Browse Nearby Words

bunch
bunched
bunches
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Cite this Entry

“Bunched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bunched. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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