bulky

adjective

ˈbəl-kē 

 also  ˈbu̇l-

bulkier; bulkiest

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 

adverb

bulkiness

ˈbəl-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• big
• biggish
• boxcar
• considerable
• goodly
• grand
• great
• handsome
• hefty
• hulking
• husky
• large
• largish
• outsize
• outsized
• oversize
• oversized
• sizable
• sizeable
• substantial
• tidy
• voluminous

Examples of bulky in a Sentence

a big, bulky football player

bulky packages might cost more to mail

Recent Examples on the Web

Many users experience slow charge times, limited compatibility and bulky designs with some power banks, but AOHi says its latest innovation eliminates these barriers, offering a fast, compact and intelligent charging solution. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

Craft yarns generally run from 0-7, with zero being the weight of yarn for lace and seven being a jumbo weight for blankets and bulkier work. —Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025

The default one in the box is bulky and can recharge only one device at a time, so try these alternatives. —Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2025

Sturdy without being bulky, each new eye-catching edition now sports its own arresting design and theme, the set’s increasing grandeur reflecting Neon’s growing stature as an Oscar player. —Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

bulky

adjective

ˈbəl-kē 

bulkier; bulkiest

1

: large in size or mass

2

: being large and hard to handle

bulkiness noun