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Glite Dictionary
clumpy

clumpy

3 4.7
Full of small lumps that stick together
  • adjective
  • /ˈklʌm.pi/
translation icon : grumoso
  • You don't want clumpy fondant, you want a nice smooth fondant.
  • clumpy hair
  • thick and clumpy
  • becomes clumpy

If you hate that, don't go near this because it is quite a clumpy thickening mascara.

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Examples

  • You don't want it to be clumpy or powdery.

    Blog text (5)

  • So this slightly clumpy tomato-infused rice was perfect for the purpose at hand.

    Blog text (26)

  • Yeah, it's just, it's so clumpy, like look at this.

  • It's getting a little bit clumpy down there.

  • I tried it once without the dry, and ended up with a clumpy mess!

    Blog text (5)

  • The gas distribution in the nucleus is clumpy.

    Academic text (1992)

  • So it's a little bit on the clumpy side, but I don't mind it.

  • The lawns were clumpy; vegetation was allowed to loll, to spread, to luxuriate.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Spiral galaxies have a flat, plate-like shape with clumpy spiral arms and younger, bluer stars.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The sauce turned out too clumpy because I didn't stir it enough.

Synonyms

lumpy
vsclumpy
39 2.2

Not smooth because it has small pieces in it

forms larger clustered or thick uneven masses rather than small bits
chunky
vsclumpy
17 3.5

Thick and full of small pieces, like peanut butter

creates uneven masses or clusters rather than only a thick texture
clotted
vsclumpy
1 5.3

Thick with soft lumps made when a liquid stops flowing, like cream or blood

forms lumps or clusters generally without implying a liquid change
bunchy
vsclumpy
1 6.0

Having parts that grow close together in small groups like grapes or flowers

describes thick uneven masses rather than merely organized tight formations
clogged
vsclumpy
1 3.7

Thick and stuck together in lumps so it cannot flow

forms uneven masses or clusters without focusing on blocking or flow
clotty
vsclumpy
8.2

Having small thick lumps like curdled milk

describes general lumpiness across materials not limited to clotlike parts
tufty
vsclumpy
5.5

Having small clumps of hair, fur, or grass

applies to lumps or clusters in many materials not only fibrous coverings

Antonyms

smooth
256 1.0

A surface that is even and not rough

How Lumpy

clumpy
3 4.7
chunky
17 3.5
bumpy
68 1.0
uneven
42 2.3
smooth
256 1.0

Surface Forms

clumpy positive

Morphology

clumpy = clump (transparent) = clump + y

Standard adjectival formation from 'clump' + '-y', meaning 'characterized by or full of clumps', which a B1 learner can derive.

Etymology

The word clumpy comes from the noun clump, which means 'a small mass or lump', plus the ending -y that means 'full of'. So, clumpy literally means 'full of lumps' and is used for things that are thick, uneven, or stuck together.