bum 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of bumnext
as in poor
of low quality that was bum advice that you got from that website

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bum

2 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbəm How to pronounce bum (audio)
as in cheeks
the part of the body upon which someone sits I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise

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bum

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
as in hobo
an idle worthless person if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beggar
a homeless wanderer who may beg or steal for a living I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money

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bum

4 of 4

verb

as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing spent most of the summer just bumming around the house

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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 bum
Noun
Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families. — Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 Designed with a plunging neckline, modest bum coverage, and compressive fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, the elegant silhouette offers rich-girl vacation energy that could easily double as a bodysuit with shorts. — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 20 June 2026
Verb
Some were drawn first to the language and its interna ideo, only to later realize the travel benefits involved; others had learned the language specifically to bum around. — Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026 That means, as some critics of the ban have pointed out, that 18-year-olds will almost certainly bum cigarettes from older friends—the same way younger teens have acquired them since time immemorial. — Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bum
  1. poor
  2. cheeks
  3. hobo
  4. beggar
  5. lounge
  6. cheap
  7. seat
  8. dodger
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Noun
  • Yusef Toubassi sits with his grandson Masa, looking on as children run by with cheeks painted bright colors and others howling with joy as clowns spin them around.
    — Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug. 2026
  • When choosing a shade, think about the natural flush of your cheeks and match that.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheeks
Noun
  • Add a slouchy hobo bag and Western belt at the waist for the full effect.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The chocolate brown finish makes this hobo bag a fitting style for fall.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of hobo
Noun
  • Robert Pattinson’s big outburst in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ has gone viral—here’s the ‘beggars’ meme, explained.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Antinous shocked even the other suitors by insulting and assaulting an elderly beggar; when the beggar revealed himself as Odysseus and slew the suitors, Antinous was the first to die.
    — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
Definition of beggar
Verb
  • There’s an outdoor kids club with a schedule of activities and a babysitting service, but most youngsters looked happy enough playing on the sand while parents lounged nearby or got involved in the digging.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Most recently, Céline Dion, Lucy Hale, and Sofia Richie Grainge were spotted in matching ensembles for outdoor activities, casual outings, and lounging at home.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of lounge
Adjective
  • Taylor Farms says 40% of salad kits sold at grocery stores come from the company, giving it a massive role in supplying a convenient and cheap vegetable option for many shoppers.
    — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Successful validation Sodium is cheap, abundant, and chemically similar to lithium.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheap
Noun
  • Costco is an awkward exhibit for putting shareholder-value maximization in the driver’s seat.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As Democrats work to defend the Michigan Senate seat, their nominee apologizes for comments about a synagogue attack.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of seat
Noun
  • The White House is now cracking down on these tariff dodgers.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of dodger

Phrases Containing bum

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bulwarks
bum
bum's rush
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Cite this Entry

“Bum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bum. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bum

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bum

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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