1
as in lumps
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue
that's a nasty bump on your arm where you hit the table
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in demotions
the act or an instance of bringing to a lower grade or rank
the bump was punishment for insubordination
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in collisions
a forceful coming together of two things
I felt the bump of the other car, but there was no damage to either vehicle
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in bangs
to come into usually forceful contact with something
that police officer bumped into me and should have apologized
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bumps
Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Las Vegas was expected to have some bumps early in the season with a new coaching staff and new quarterback Geno Smith working together.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Most of the frog’s body is smooth, while the sides, throat, chest and stomach have some small bumps, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
The odd couple hit several bumps in the road throughout the series' debut season, with friends and family betting against them at every turn.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
However, her re-entry into the Vegas market has come with its own unexpected bumps in the road.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
In their three years of traveling in a Land Rover, the couple have experienced some rough bumps on the road.
—Kaela Ling, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
The injury report on Friday was mixed for the Chargers, who have suffered plenty of bumps, bruises, sprains and strains since training camp opened back in July and yet managed to record a 4-2 record going into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Plus, its built with a sleek, sturdy metal shell, which makes the drive look great and hold up to bumps and falls.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
Possible bumps in the road Defense will top the agenda.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Las Vegas was expected to have some bumps early in the season with a new coaching staff and new quarterback Geno Smith working together.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Most of the frog’s body is smooth, while the sides, throat, chest and stomach have some small bumps, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
The odd couple hit several bumps in the road throughout the series' debut season, with friends and family betting against them at every turn.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025
However, her re-entry into the Vegas market has come with its own unexpected bumps in the road.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
In their three years of traveling in a Land Rover, the couple have experienced some rough bumps on the road.
—Kaela Ling, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
The injury report on Friday was mixed for the Chargers, who have suffered plenty of bumps, bruises, sprains and strains since training camp opened back in July and yet managed to record a 4-2 record going into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Plus, its built with a sleek, sturdy metal shell, which makes the drive look great and hold up to bumps and falls.
—PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bumps
Noun
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These include things like oats, coconut glycerin, and peanut butter in the lumps of coal biscuits, oats, peanut butter and bacon in the bac’n nutty biscuits, and chickpeas, tapioca flour and apples in the brushy sticks.—
Christine Persaud,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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Cut into potatoes, and scoop the flesh into a food processor; process until no lumps remain, about 1 minute.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Other penalties include fines up to $1000 or demotions.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Some of the agents had been reassigned earlier this year, in what were widely seen as demotions, The Washington Post reported.—
Huo Jingnan,
NPR,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The changing gravitational field as a star sheds mass can disrupt the planets' orbits, resulting in many collisions between asteroids, comets and surviving planets and moons over billions of years that can grind solid bodies down to dust and small chunks.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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Just this month, the regulator opened a new inquiry into dozens of reports that Teslas with FSD engaged had violated traffic laws, with some of these incidents leading to collisions and injuries.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The sheep alien bangs its head on the glass in the nextdoor cell, startling Tootles, who falls over and spills the tray.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Infection is rapid, causing swellings in the lymph nodes (buboes) and leading to septicaemia and pulmonary infection.—
Matthew Binnicker,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Requiring over 20 hours of fabrication time, this lustrous dial is produced via the application of numerous layers of vitreous enamel and multiple firings in a kiln measuring between 800 degrees and 900 degrees Celsius.—
Oren Hartov,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
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Over the past 10 months, EOIR has lost more than 125 judges to firings and voluntary resignations, down from about 700 judges at the start of the year.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What To Know The new position collides with Colorado’s current sourcing plan.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
And the ego needed to overcome shyness and stage fright collides with the endless rejection that defines the profession.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The jury was also shown images of bloody gashes and bruises on Ventura’s body during trial.—
Elizabeth Wagmeister,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
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The announcement followed visible swelling in his legs and bruises on his hands.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bumps. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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