1
as in mountains
an elevation of land higher than a hill
a cloud-capped hump straddles the border separating the two countries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hills
an area of high ground
the grassy hump at the center of the park is a popular sledding spot during the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in struggles
to devote serious and sustained effort
the farmers had to really hump to get the harvest in before the rains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in speeds
to proceed or move quickly
the boat was really humping before the motor started to sputter all of a sudden
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 humps
Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Her office released a report last month critical of the design and placement of speed humps and bumps.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Woodland doesn’t have any skid plates or other off-road gear, but precise control of the motors’ generous torque output provided excellent traction on the steep trail and over hollows and humps Toyota created to demonstrate the SUV’s capability.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Continuing efforts to slow vehicles on busy La Jolla roads, the local Traffic & Transportation Board discussed the possibility of reprogramming traffic lights and installing temporary speed humps.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Long almond tips become the bottom of the heart; trace that line and add two humps for a romantic design.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026
Residents of the Burnham Park neighborhood, a hotspot for traffic crashes and reckless driving, have led efforts to add speed humps and stop signs to the area.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The Broncos had more humps than a pack of camels when Payton took over in 2023.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
And a four-corner hydraulic-lift system takes the worry out of speed humps or heavily rutted roads.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
There was a heavy focus from council members and transit advocates on putting more speed humps and other cyclist and pedestrian safety infrastructure throughout city neighborhoods, and criticism for specific project delays.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Her office released a report last month critical of the design and placement of speed humps and bumps.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Woodland doesn’t have any skid plates or other off-road gear, but precise control of the motors’ generous torque output provided excellent traction on the steep trail and over hollows and humps Toyota created to demonstrate the SUV’s capability.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Continuing efforts to slow vehicles on busy La Jolla roads, the local Traffic & Transportation Board discussed the possibility of reprogramming traffic lights and installing temporary speed humps.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Long almond tips become the bottom of the heart; trace that line and add two humps for a romantic design.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026
Residents of the Burnham Park neighborhood, a hotspot for traffic crashes and reckless driving, have led efforts to add speed humps and stop signs to the area.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The Broncos had more humps than a pack of camels when Payton took over in 2023.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
And a four-corner hydraulic-lift system takes the worry out of speed humps or heavily rutted roads.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humps
Noun
-
Low snow in the Colorado mountains during the exceptionally warm winter has led to below-average flows in the waterways that supply metro Denver — around 18% of the norm last week in the Colorado River Basin and 2% of the norm in the South Platte River Basin, according to Denver Water measurements.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
-
Travel in the mountains will be difficult to dangerous Tuesday night through Wednesday.—
Alex Lehnert,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
While frolicking among the rolling hills of Florence, Italy, Gwyneth Paltrow found a way to stay comfortable while still looking put-together.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
-
Paul Villa and his wife, Kristen, were concerned about too many massage parlors popping up in the city of about 87,000, nestled against the hills between the 605 Freeway and the Orange County border.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Anticipated state struggles to regulate foreign apps is why a federal ban would be preferable, 19th News reported.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
-
In addition to his family situation as a child, Horner's lawyers have presented evidence about his autism diagnosis, struggles with mental health, lead exposure and issues with his brain development in order to convince the jury to sentence him to life in prison instead of death row.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Access to capable hardware lowers barriers, speeds iteration, and enables real-world testing beyond simulations, accelerating progress in embodied AI, especially in manipulation and applied robotics.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
-
In the video, the vehicle speeds away.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
In the middle distance is a human settlement, then a band of golden grasslands, then the arid lower slopes of the Cordilleras, and finally the snowy peaks, including the grand dome of Chimborazo.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
In a medium bowl beat cream and powdered sugar with a mixer on medium- high until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight).—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
These trees and shrubs range in size from compact mounds to pyramidal trees, offering endless design opportunities.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
At the new Orkin Discovery Zone inside the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, visitors can learn how termites and the mounds these bulbous invertebrates make have inspired the chimneys in our homes.—
Olivia Wakim,
AJC.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Eta Aquarid meteors can be spotted from April 19 to May 28 as Earth passes through the debris trail left in the wake of Halley's Comet as the comet races along its 76-year orbit.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
Jake LaRavia races down for a layup.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Humps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humps. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
