ropy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈrō-pē 

variants or less commonly ropey

ropier; ropiest

1

a

: capable of being drawn into a thread : viscous

also : tending to adhere in stringy masses

b

: having a gelatinous or slimy quality from bacterial or fungal contamination

ropy milk

ropy flour

2

a

: resembling rope

b

: muscular, sinewy

3

slang : poor, lousy

ropiness noun

ropiness

2 of 2

noun

rop·​i·​ness

-pēnə̇s, 

-pin-

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being ropy

2

a

: a stringy condition of milk caused by contamination with some strains of bacteria

b

: a slimy condition of flour or bread caused by bacterial or fungal contamination

Synonyms of ropy

Adjective

• thick

Examples of ropy in a Sentence

Adjective

The passengers looked a bit ropy after the bumpy flight.

because the paint was so old, it was ropy and couldn't be smoothly applied to the wood

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

With a rocker’s bleached-out shag, ropy arms vined with tattoos and jangly silver bracelets, and skintight jeans slashed by rips and rivets, Mr. Webb was a proudly resolute bearer of the punk-glam torch, even as the decades moved inexorably along. —Penelope Green, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2020

Nearly 2m Ukrainians have arrived since 2014, pushed by a ropy national economy and a war in the country’s east, and pulled by higher wages in Poland. —The Economist, 22 Feb. 2020

Calamari aren’t the usual thin threads of squid, but thick, ropy rectangles, piping hot and partnered with an Asian-inflected, peanut-tamarind-miso dipping sauce. —Rand Richards Cooper, courant.com, 18 Sep. 2019

Honda’s updates to the Fit’s suspension and steering for 2018 only slightly button down its ropy behavior. —Alexander Stoklosa, Car and Driver, 19 Jan. 2018

Pastas are a forceful presence on the tight menu, including ropy rye-flour bucatini coiling among fat fresh clams and chunks of pancetta. —Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 13 Dec. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ropy

adjective

ˈrō-pē 

ropier; ropiest

1

: capable of being drawn into a sticky thread : viscous

2

: resembling rope

ropiness noun

Medical Definition

ropy

adjective

variants also ropey

ˈrō-pē 

ropier; ropiest

1

: capable of being drawn into a thread : viscous

also : tending to adhere in stringy masses

2

: having a gelatinous or slimy quality from bacterial or fungal contamination

ropy milk

ropiness noun