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

Examples 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 Cybertruck’s hood would also need to flex, and there should be no protrusions to gain a good NCAP pedestrian safety score. Carlton Reid, WIRED, 15 Oct. 2024 The melon is a protrusion on a beluga’s forehead, made up of fatty tissue and muscle. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024 The precisely contoured shell shape provides a very close fit through the instep, ankles, and heel, but with enough curvature to encompass—rather than crush—bony protrusions. Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024 This protrusion, combined with the 12-degree slope of the terrain, means that Odysseus is now gently leaning on the lunar surface at about a 30-degree angle. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for protrusion 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protrusion
Noun
  • The 180-degree rotating lens offers flexible projection angles, while electronic focus and automatic keystone correction ensure sharp images.
    StackCommerce Team (Sponsored), PCMAG, 22 Jan. 2025
  • FanGraphs’ various projection systems all place him somewhere between 5-6 WAR for 2025.
    Zack Meisel, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Whether those protuberances make it onto the production vehicle, the latest of which was just shown at the annual CES tech show in Las Vegas, remains to be seen (and hopefully won’t be seen).
    William Roberson, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
  • There are many different types of foam rollers, but the two main models are: the shorter style with protuberances which is used purely for working on circulation or muscle recovery, and the longer one made of smooth foam without protuberances, used for toning.
    Enrica Petraglia, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • Fallon also makes a saucy joke about the bulge in his workout shorts ,as he's seen pulling out a dove that flies away.
    Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025
  • After this process, those disks would bulge or depress in response to a magnetic field.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The itinerary here is always evolving, so head to their experiences section to see what’s currently on offer.
    Ariel Okin, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Giveaway Entities’ right to amend these Official Rules, in whole or in part, does not apply to this Arbitration section.
    USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Notre Dame and its renowned symbols — the golden helmets to match the dome atop the Main Building on campus, the Touchdown Jesus mural overlooking the football stadium — are recognizable worldwide.
    Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Tropicana’s dome has always shielded the Rays from Florida’s high heat and relentless rain, the latter of which could wreak havoc on an MLB schedule that’s already undergone changes to accommodate the team’s relocation.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Outside, broad overhangs and a covered sitting area offer protection from sun and rain.
    Roxana Popescu, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
  • The latter, designed by Albert Frey, opened in 1965 as an Enco gas station with its dramatic triangular overhang protecting the pumps from the heat.
    Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 24 Dec. 2024
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
  • The National Weather Service issued its highest fire weather alert level for portions of the Los Angeles area for Monday into Tuesday morning, as powerful Santa Ana winds return.
    Andrew Freedman, Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Nine times in the last five years, the Dodgers agreed to deals with significant amounts of deferred money — large portions of salaries that won’t be paid out until well into the future, after the deal is complete.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near protrusion

Cite this Entry

“Protrusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protrusion. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on protrusion

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