lumpier; lumpiest
1
a
: filled or covered with lumps
b
: characterized by choppy waves
2
: having a heavy clumsy appearance
3
: uneven and often crude in style
lumpily adverb
lumpiness noun

Examples of lumpy in a Sentence

the lumpy mashed potatoes were cold as well before painting, we had to sand the lumpy surface to make it smooth
Recent Examples on the Web Stitched together, the two halves make for a lumpy, if occasionally gripping, whole. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2023 Far from being uniform and smooth like milk, molecular clouds are lumpy, more like chicken noodle soup. Nia Imara, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 How it’s held up: Over time, the cushions remained firm and didn’t become lumpy or misshapen — and there was no wear, tear, or fading during use. Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024 The authentic Christmas dinner had consisted of dry turkey, lumpy mashed potatoes, and flabby spears of asparagus. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 30 Aug. 2023 Some experts have suggested the moons are asteroids that got captured by Mars’ gravity, while others proposed the lumpy, cratered rocks are pieces of the planet broken free by a collision long ago. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 Firms with lumpy cash flows and the inability to maintain a regular dividend should ideally stay away from special dividends. Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 It’s covered in craters, most notably Herschel, an 80-mile-long pit with a prominent central peak that gives the lumpy moon its Death Star aesthetic. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2024 Stir just until moistened (the batter should be slightly lumpy). Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lumpy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of lumpy was circa 1706

Dictionary Entries Near lumpy

Cite this Entry

“Lumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lumpy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lumpy

adjective
lumpier; lumpiest
: having or full of lumps
lumpiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lumpy

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