protrude

verb

prō-ˈtrüd How to pronounce protrude (audio)
Definition of protrudenext
as in to poke
to extend outward beyond a usual point we spotted the kitten's tail protruding from beneath the dresser

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 protrude 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 While Kali’s protruding tongue is sometimes interpreted as a gesture of embarrassment or shame, the Rolling Stones’ logo reimagines it as a symbol of protest and antiestablishment sentiment. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026 Archaeologists surveying the area in 2020 came across human bones protruding from the ground. — Allen Breed, Fortune, 17 July 2026 The small black object protruding underneath the door kept showing up and the woman told her mother about her suspicions. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for protrude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protrude
  1. poke
  2. bulge
  3. swell
  4. jut
Verb
  • Dike was waiting in the middle to poke it home, giving Orlando a 1-0 lead.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • As the compressed sides bulge outward under load, the tower’s structural strength drops sharply, frequently triggering sudden buckling or catastrophic collapse.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
  • Okegbe recommends immediately discarding any can that’s bulging, leaking, heavily rusted, or dented.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026
Definition of bulge
Verb
  • The man — holding one bladed weapon in each hand — responded by walking down 41st Avenue away from a growing mass of officers, which quickly swelled from just a couple to at least 10.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • In Westeros, everyone always fights about the Iron Throne—a chair like an iron cowlick, constructed with actual swords seized from vanquished enemies, jutting every which way.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The 5th District now juts over 150 miles from Kansas City into Central Missouri, and its electorate is just 41% Democratic, down from 62% Democratic under its old borders, according to a CBS News analysis.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of jut

Browse Nearby Words

protracts
protrude
protruded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Protrude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protrude. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on protrude

Nglish: Translation of protrude for Spanish Speakers

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