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Synonyms

bulky

American  
[buhl-kee] / ˈbʌl ki /

adjective

bulkier, bulkiest

  1. of relatively large and cumbersome bulk or size.

    Synonyms:
    clumsy, unwieldy, ponderous, massive

  2. (of a fabric or yarn) thick; lofty.

  3. (of a garment) made of thick, resilient fabric or yarn.

    a bulky sweater.
bulky British  
/ ˈbʌlkɪ /

adjective

  1. very large and massive, esp so as to be unwieldy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • bulkily adverb
  • bulkiness noun
  • overbulkily adverb
  • overbulkiness noun
  • overbulky adjective
  • unbulky adjective

Etymology

Origin of bulky

First recorded in 1665–75; bulk 1 + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The approach provides a distinct advantage: Xanadu’s machines will be able to function at room temperature, eliminating the need for the bulky refrigerators needed to cool the components of most computers to absolute zero.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Rhinocerotids varied widely in form, ranging from large, bulky animals to smaller, hornless types.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

The eighth-generation VW Golf GTI is made for drivers weary of the same-old bulky family SUV experience.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

But generating enough heat from harder to capture wavelengths has traditionally required thick absorbing materials or very bright illumination, making such detectors bulky and slow.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

This time he pulled several things from it, including a bulky square, which he unfolded and set up—the tent.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.