1
as in swollen
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in bursting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the sides of the returning camper's suitcase bulged with a month's worth of dirty laundry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bulging
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Dec. 2021
Indian streamer ALTBalaji has revealed a focus on the burgeoning Indian youth market and a bulging slate.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2021
Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
The workshop was a leather Pouch, bulging with what a child can win.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bulging
Adjective
And the big, bulging, muscles that let Hulk SMASH so effectively aren't the same as carrying a lot of excess fat.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Dec. 2021
Indian streamer ALTBalaji has revealed a focus on the burgeoning Indian youth market and a bulging slate.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2021
Verb
The kids froze mid-mouthful, eyes bulging in horror at the thought of having to witness such a thing in the company of their parents.
—Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
The workshop was a leather Pouch, bulging with what a child can win.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bulging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulging
Adjective
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On the third day, his forehead and eyes were puffy and swollen.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
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The next morning, doctors noted that his tongue had become swollen, DHS said.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the bathroom, a chemical meant to make trace blood more visible reacted in the sink and the bathtub, while a visible bloodstain was found under the protruding edge of a vanity, Hooks said.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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In the video, large swaths of brown earth can be seen protruding patches of mountain snow.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the dotcom era, the economists explained, the economy reflected the latter scenario, where gains failed to show, bursting the bubble.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Lendeborg today feels like an overnight sensation, bursting on the scene in his maize-and-blue out of nowhere.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Whereas Vaslav’s unorthodox looks infatuated many people, hers (protuberant teeth and lips, stocky body, flat chest, powerful thighs) alienated many.—
Alastair Macaulay,
The New York Review of Books,
29 Dec. 2022
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And the rear of the case is deeper to accommodate a protuberant rear camera—hinting that the next iPad will see a big camera upgrade.—
David Phelan,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Exhausting, exhilarating softball in which to spend my body’s force—that in the morning—then in the afternoon, the brimming, hearty stew of family life.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Upon the umpteenth retelling, Jules (Jeff Wilbusch)—who witnessed the gory death of Rachel’s mother (Victoria Pedretti) as a little boy and therefore wholeheartedly believes in the curse—begins poking holes in the story.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
2 Apr. 2026
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While the 1930s and 1940s did see some instances of carnival poking fun at the tyranny of the Nazi regime (none of which, it should be noted, went unpunished), Birdsall and other scholars maintain that the festival was, first and foremost, an avenue for propaganda.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Numbers aside, the sleeveless look had his teammates buzzing.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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The buzzing grew, steady and direct, and the drone emerged from between city buildings, cut through the rain, and stopped inches from Pok.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Mutations in genes encoding cardiac myosin, for instance, can lead to cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic and dilated forms, which affect the ability of the heart to pump blood effectively.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 Apr. 2026
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Symptoms can include abdominal pain or discomfort, blurred or double vision, dilated pupils, dizziness, drooping eyelid, dry or sore throat, facial muscle paralysis, nausea or vomiting, swollen belly, and trouble swallowing and speaking.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bulging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bulging. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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