bulky

adjective

ˈbəl-kē How to pronounce bulky (audio)
also ˈbu̇l-
bulkier; bulkiest
Synonyms of bulky
1
a
: having bulk
b(1)
: large of its kind
(2)
: corpulent
2
: having great volume in proportion to weight
a bulky knit sweater
bulkily
ˈbəl-kə-lē How to pronounce bulky (audio)
adverb
bulkiness
ˈbəl-kē-nəs How to pronounce bulky (audio)
noun

Synonyms of bulky

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Examples of bulky in a Sentence

a big, bulky football player bulky packages might cost more to mail
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
For younger ones, the Lite—targeted to kids ages 3 to 7—is a bit smaller and less bulky, but is still packed with features. — Melissa Knific, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026 Lug a bulky, awkward, bear-proof canister to store your food so you don’t get mauled. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 These shoes are a perfect pick if the straps on the Arizona sandal are too thick and bulky for your taste, while still providing that same level of comfort. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026 Such systems could potentially replace some of the bulky optical components currently used to provide pilots with real-time information. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bulky

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulky was in the 15th century

Rhymes for bulky

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Browse Nearby Words

bulk up
bulky
bulk yarn
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Cite this Entry

“Bulky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulky. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bulky

adjective
ˈbəl-kē How to pronounce bulky (audio)
bulkier; bulkiest
1
: large in size or mass
2
: being large and hard to handle
bulkiness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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