1
a
: a heavy clumsy ship
b(1)
: the body of an old ship unfit for service
(2)
: a ship used as a prison
—usually used in plural
every prisoner sent to the hulks—
Kenneth Roberts
Kenneth Roberts
c
: an abandoned wreck or shell (as of a building or automobile)
2
: one that is bulky or unwieldy
hulked; hulking; hulks
1
dialectal, England
: to move ponderously
2
: to appear impressively large or massive : loom
factories hulked along the river
Synonyms
Examples of hulk in a Sentence
Noun
The ship's rusting hulk is still visible on the rocks.
the burned out hulk of the factory
Recent Examples on the Web
David Axe, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
The gleaming and modern hulk might have been rejected by the district’s conservative populace, especially since the Mubaraks had supported hospital fundraising efforts.
—Sushrut Jangi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2014
Richard Kuipers, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
That’s because Judge, the Yankees’ hulking 6-foot-7, $360-million center fielder, had one of the most productive offensive seasons in Major League Baseball history.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hulk 
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Noun
There were literal piles of dead and mangled Russians around the smoldering hulks.
—David Axe, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
The gleaming and modern hulk might have been rejected by the district’s conservative populace, especially since the Mubaraks had supported hospital fundraising efforts.
—Sushrut Jangi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2014
Verb
Called from his desk to a plush dining room where friends and family of his boss have gathered, An is asked to entertain everyone with an impromptu fighting exhibition against opponents including the Banker’s hulking son, Kevin (Kevin Lee).
—Richard Kuipers, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
That’s because Judge, the Yankees’ hulking 6-foot-7, $360-million center fielder, had one of the most productive offensive seasons in Major League Baseball history.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hulk
Dictionary Entries Near hulk
Cite this Entry
“Hulk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hulk. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hulk
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a heavy clumsy ship
b
: the body of an old ship unfit for service or of an abandoned wreck
2
: a bulky or clumsy person or thing
hulk
2 of 2 verb
: to appear impressively large
factories hulking along the river
hulking
adjective
ˈhəl-kiŋ
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