Synonym Chooser

How is the word projection different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of projection are bulge, protrusion, and protuberance. While all these words mean "an extension beyond the normal line or surface," projection implies a jutting out especially at a sharp angle.

those projections along the wall are safety hazards

When is it sensible to use bulge instead of projection?

The synonyms bulge and projection are sometimes interchangeable, but bulge suggests an expansion caused by internal pressure.

bulges in the tile floor

When is protrusion a more appropriate choice than projection?

The words protrusion and projection can be used in similar contexts, but protrusion suggests a thrusting out so that the extension seems a deformity.

the bizarre protrusions of a coral reef

Where would protuberance be a reasonable alternative to projection?

The words protuberance and projection are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, protuberance implies a growing or swelling out in rounded form.

a skin disease marked by warty protuberances

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 projection Imax 70mm film projection, the preferred cinematic format of auteur directors including Nolan, will be located in Cinemark Seven Bridges in the Woodridge suburb of Chicago; Cinemark Carefree Circle in Colorado Springs; and Cinemark Tinseltown in Rochester. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025 Oil revenues are running below projections, and both the IMF and the Saudi finance ministry forecast multiyear budget deficits. Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025 Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox made a significant projection for Pittsburgh following the loss, predicting that Mike Tomlin's club will swing a trade for New Orleans Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 For example, Cinemark’s planned three new Imax 70mm film projection systems are set to be operating before Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey shot entirely with proprietary Imax cameras arrives in theaters July 17, 2026. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for projection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for projection
Noun
  • While you may be tempted to go shopping along Marshall Street (the student hangout lined with college shops and eateries) before the game, keep in mind that you’re only allowed to bring small, clear bags into the dome.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The original chrome dome would have gone hard here, or a really glossy black.
    The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Through the video’s comment section, Silva also discovered the Y2K fashion rule that the jeans went as a pair with thongs.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • By the end of the game, hundreds of shirtless brethren had joined in on the revelry, stretching across four sections and making headlines.
    Justin Williams, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Thursday's season 7 debut included a teaser looking ahead toward future episodes, with a portion near the end including a shot of the 45-year-old All's Fair star getting an MRI before discussing an update on her health.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Most reserve commands only see their soldiers for two or three days per month, and a significant portion of part-time troops live far away from their units and commute hundreds of miles for their days in uniform.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The female’s back is covered in small protrusions that resemble popped kernels of popcorn, inspiring its genus name Zea, derived from the corn plant.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • This protein is needed for the formation of cilia — hairlike protrusions that cells can use to move — as well as in the assembly of the mitotic spindle that organizes chromosomes during cell division, and for the transport of neurotransmitters in neurons.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Even more interesting is the fact that Noctua is issuing three variants of the cooler with variations in the convexity of the cold plate: a normal, a high-convexity, and a low-convexity model.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 10 June 2024
  • Exploiting mispricing in the 21st century will depend more on understanding the convexity of outcomes not yet visible.
    Jeff Henriksen, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2021
Noun
  • In the far distance lies the Pacific Ocean, and beyond that, featureless protuberances labeled Japan, Russia and China.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Above the central display is a ventilative protuberance sporting a pair of menacing ambient lights.
    Brett Berk, Robb Report, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Place in pie pan, leaving at least 1-inch overhang.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Many such cities lost jobs with the decline of the manufacturing industry in the 20th century, and many still have an overhang of distressed or vacant homes that help drag down property values overall.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Even small pieces of space junk (for example, leftover or broken pieces from space launches or nonfunctioning satellites) can have catastrophic effects.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Snag the piece in brown and brass or all black.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Projection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/projection. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on projection

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