clod

noun

ˈkläd 

1

a

: a lump or mass especially of earth or clay

b

: soil, earth

2

: oaf, dolt

cloddish

ˈklä-dish 

adjective

cloddishness noun

cloddy

ˈklä-dē 

adjective

Synonyms of clod

• hulk
• lump
• idiot
• loser
• moron
• oaf
• lout
• mutt
• brute
• goose
• stupid
• clodhopper
• clown
• villain

Examples of clod in a Sentence

Her husband's such a clod.

despite his imposing size, he's no simple clod

Recent Examples on the Web

Research scientist Ashish Rajurkar kneels in the dirt, lifting a large clod of soil tangled around a soybean plant. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Once the land is clear, use a rotary tiller to break up the soil clods. — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026

According to the authors, their results suggest that clods of earth can indeed catalyze these reactions without the presence of life. — Siddhant Pusdekar, Quanta Magazine, 1 June 2026

At first, the object that surfaced was inconspicuous, packed in a wet clod of earth. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clodde, from Old English clod- (in clodhamer fieldfare)

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

clod

noun

ˈkläd 

1

: a lump or mass especially of earth or clay

2

: a person who is dull or not sensitive : oaf

cloddish

ˈkläd-ish 

adjective

cloddy

ˈkläd-ē 

adjective