1
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the dress bunches a bit at the waist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crowding
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 bunching
Athletes and outdoor lovers will appreciate that the underarm gussets promote mobility, while rolled forward shoulder seams help to prevent bunching and chafing underneath backpack straps.
—
Harry Spampinato, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead of bunching up, laundry is looser and has less friction.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
It’s finished with blue trim for a pop of color, and the plush all-season comforter is quilted to keep the fill evenly distributed without bunching.
—Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Its grid stitch looks elegant while preventing the stuffing from bunching up, and it’s made of 100% cotton with a polyester filling that is helpful for people with allergies.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
The shoulder cut-out is designed for side sleepers, so there’s no pillow-bunching or spine-contorting in the process of getting comfortable.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025
So there's some real downsides to the way the administration is bunching these requests.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Harry Spampinato, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Instead of bunching up, laundry is looser and has less friction.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
It’s finished with blue trim for a pop of color, and the plush all-season comforter is quilted to keep the fill evenly distributed without bunching.
—Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Its grid stitch looks elegant while preventing the stuffing from bunching up, and it’s made of 100% cotton with a polyester filling that is helpful for people with allergies.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
The shoulder cut-out is designed for side sleepers, so there’s no pillow-bunching or spine-contorting in the process of getting comfortable.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2025
So there's some real downsides to the way the administration is bunching these requests.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bunching
Verb
-
The front tire was flat, with a screw protruding from it.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The protruding exterior door handles are easy to grab with heavy gloves on and look good.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Opponents are aware of this, crowding space and stopping his ball-carrying strengths, so getting the England international to perform at his best is vital.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Her family is careful about visitors, too; the neighbor kids, for example, wave and shout greetings from the doorway instead of crowding inside.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But even before that, there were questions and media folks, like myself and others, were poking these questions about the president's former president's acuity and age and how much that was affecting his decision making or ability to run a campaign and even be President of the United States.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The villains in this TikTok trend are clear, with most of the videos poking fun at narcissistic, annoying, or outright delusional people that just seem to be an inescapable part of life these days.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The final days of our ordeal blurred into a nightmare of torment, wandering while daylight lasted and huddling under open shelters at night, shaking with cold.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Soon there were nearly 50 people huddling under umbrellas around the back of Thompson's car, some of whom had parked at the neighboring Northstar Family Church and walked through the wet grass and puddles to join the growing crowd.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Penn’s curdled facial expressions, sever buzzcut and bulging biceps morphed him into a cruel lethal weapon, but that performance — like Taylor’s — stayed stuck in the same groove throughout.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
To stabilize bulging sides, drive rebar rods into the soil along the exterior of the beds.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The oil blockade has crushed tourism, fueled unaffordable gas prices, forced hospitals to ration care and left garbage piling up in the streets.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
17 Mar. 2026
-
And new problems are piling up at a dizzying rate.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bunching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bunching. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
