Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of protrusion are bulge, projection, and protuberance. While all these words mean "an extension beyond the normal line or surface," protrusion suggests a thrusting out so that the extension seems a deformity.

the bizarre protrusions of a coral reef

When is it sensible to use bulge instead of protrusion?

The meanings of bulge and protrusion largely overlap; however, bulge suggests an expansion caused by internal pressure.

bulges in the tile floor

When is projection a more appropriate choice than protrusion?

The synonyms projection and protrusion are sometimes interchangeable, but projection implies a jutting out especially at a sharp angle.

those projections along the wall are safety hazards

When would protuberance be a good substitute for protrusion?

The words protuberance and protrusion can be used in similar contexts, but 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 protrusion The domed protrusions act like pixels, creating a ghost pattern of windows on the façade. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Mar. 2025 The reason whooping cough can bring on such a gnarly, well, cough in the first place is because of how B. pertussis wreaks havoc: These bugs latch on to the cilia (a.k.a. tiny hairlike protrusions) on cells in your respiratory tract and ooze toxins, triggering inflammation and swelling. Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Feb. 2025 Under such low pressure, the electric field causes positive ions generated from the residual gas in a tube to accelerate and bombard the cathode, creating sharp, nanometer-scale protrusions, which degrade and, ultimately, destroy it. Jin-Woo Han, IEEE Spectrum, 23 June 2014 The animals are identified by two protrusions on their lower jaw that appear like upside-down vampire fangs. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for protrusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protrusion
Noun
  • The most recent population projection by the Florida Bureau of Economic Research estimates that Florida’s population will increase from approximately 22.6 million in 2023 to between roughly 24.7 and 31.4 million in 2050, a 9.3 to 38.8% increase.
    Bob Maliva, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2025
  • This Broncos draft class is perhaps particularly interesting in that department, given the projection involved with Harvey, first-round pick Jahdae Barron’s versatility, and the light collegiate snap counts for OLB Que Robinson and TE Caleb Lohner.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Violet-blue protuberances are surrounded by what look like thorns but are actually soft, if jagged, flower parts.
    Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 14 Mar. 2025
  • By flying drones over a remote stretch of the Canadian Arctic, scientists were able to capture unique footage of narwhals, shedding light on the function of their famed protuberances, according to a study published Feb. 27 in Frontiers in Marine Science.
    Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • From bodega doorways, teens in hoodies glare, one hand on the bulge behind their belt.
    Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
  • DeChambeau was the genesis of the idea to make the curve of the club face – the bulge and roll – proportionate to how fast a golfer can swing the club.
    Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Seven whiskeys are finalists in the Single-Barrel Bourbon section of the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • The film will have its world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight section of the Cannes film festival, which kicks off next week.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Use the dome light and flashers to make your vehicle more noticeable.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2025
  • Each of the three domes is covered in a translucent plastic membrane to protect it from the elements and is supported by a framework made from a different material.
    Adam Williams May 05, New Atlas, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • The breakout extends the rally in a near-term positive development, but the deterioration on the monthly chart is an overhang that suggests the rally may lose momentum abruptly.
    Katie Stockton, CNBC, 12 May 2025
  • An overhang above the outdoor kitchen helps protect the grill and sink from the weather.
    Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • When the loss function has a convenient mathematical property called convexity, this procedure is guaranteed to find the optimal solution.
    Zachary C. Lipton, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Jan. 2016
  • 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
Noun
  • Whey protein is the liquid portion of milk that separates from the curd during cheesemaking.
    Lindsey DeSoto, Health, 20 May 2025
  • Most of his bladder had been removed due to a rare cancer, leaving a portion too small to function.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Protrusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protrusion. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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