bulk 1 of 2

Definition of bulknext
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bulk

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

The words mass and volume are common synonyms of bulk. While all three words mean "the aggregate that forms a body or unit," bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous.

the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers

Where would mass be a reasonable alternative to bulk?

While in some cases nearly identical to bulk, mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind.

a mass of boulders

When could volume be used to replace bulk?

The words volume and bulk are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating.

a tremendous volume of water

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 bulk
Noun
Indonesians make up the large bulk of foreign labor in Malaysia, predominantly in plantations and construction. ABC News, 12 May 2026 Pentagon officials also told lawmakers that the cost of the Iran war has risen to about $29 billion, the vast bulk of which — roughly $24 billion — is related to replacing munitions and repairing equipment but also includes operational costs to keep forces deployed. Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Verb
Manufacturers artificially create sugar alcohols and use them as bulking sugars to cut the intense sweetness of other no-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame. Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025 Hard-line Republicans initially bulking at the price tag. ABC News, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for bulk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bulk
Noun
  • After last week's redistricting push by Tennessee Republicans, the thoroughfare now serves as a boundary line that fractures the majority-Black city's residents into three congressional seats that are likely to be held by Republicans.
    Stephen Fowler, NPR, 15 May 2026
  • The majority Democrats passed bills intended to curb the federal government’s impacts on the state.
    Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • When Azik tries to rid himself of the stigma, calling someone else weak as if to offload the physical weight of the insult, a startling act of violence occurs.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
  • There are books on everything from how to leverage dopamine for dressing well to dressmaking, from how to deploy dopamine fixes for weight loss to rewiring our brain’s dopamine to achieve athletic success.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • On one of the main topics, Beccera noted that the state needs to invest in early years education and reduce class sizes to ensure students have a strong educational foundation for their future success.
    James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
  • On kid’s sizes, the midsole and heel of the shoe feature green and purple LED lights which can be powered on and off with the touch of a button at the heel.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Salah’s comments followed a limp 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa on Friday that increased criticism of Slot and questions about his future in the job.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • In Los Angeles, for example, the city spent more than 50 million dollars in 2021 on policing homelessness, yet unsheltered homelessness still increased.
    Shianne LeClaire, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Back when the Big Ten decided to bloat itself from coast to coast, causing an avalanche of conference expansion, the rumblings started about a possible secession.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
  • Many manufacturers recommend starting with a small dose and increasing gradually to reduce side effects such as bloating, nausea, or diarrhea.
    Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Hormones take the child’s body at puberty and conjure from it the adult form, directing the ovaries to mature their eggs or the testicles to produce sperm, each of these gametes containing the potential to create new life.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
  • Made from a lightweight, stretchy jersey material, this top naturally drapes gorgeously across the body.
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • The period details overall of a time when the Russian/American connection was taking on new dimension are also right on the money.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 16 May 2026
  • In typical models of Earth’s surface, all features scale with the same fractal dimension.
    Alex Music, Scientific American, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Turkey vehemently rejects the label, conceding many died in that era but insisting the death toll is inflated and the deaths resulted from civil unrest.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026
  • The inner material, or bladder, is the portion of the speed bag that’s inflated to give the speed bag its shape and bounce.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bulk. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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