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Synonyms

hulking

American  
[huhl-king] / ˈhʌl kɪŋ /

adjective

  1. heavy and clumsy; bulky.

    Synonyms:
    ponderous, cumbersome, massive
hulking British  
/ ˈhʌlkɪŋ /

adjective

  1. Also: hulky.  big and ungainly

"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

Etymology

Origin of hulking

First recorded in 1690–1700; hulk + -ing 2

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.

A short drive away on Ferdowsi square, a few hulking black armoured vehicles flanked by armed men in uniform send an even starker message.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

If you’re not in the mood for a hulking sirloin — and if just creamed spinach and a frosted martini feel like insufficient ballast — skip the burger.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

Outside, the hulking infrastructure is now a testament to a long-gone era of space cooperation.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

A hulking glass-and-steel cubo olimpico plays home to international TV studios, while lines of tourists wait for mascots and merch at the Olympic megastore.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

My stomach clenches at the sight of Dad, who looks small next to these hulking men.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

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.