lumpy

adjective

ˈləm-pē 

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

ˈləm-pə-lē 

adverb

lumpiness

ˈləm-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• clumpy
• thick
• chunky
• curdy
• nubby
• nubbly

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

This lumpy book, full of redundant stories and unnecessary detours that provide little illumination but plenty of needless bulk, lacks participation by the group’s members and is not the biography that this great and important band deserves. —Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025

Whether yours is filled with down, polyester, or something in between, knowing how to wash it properly can mean the difference between preserving its plush feel and ending up with a lumpy, flattened mess. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 31 May 2025

The only potential pitfall to be mindful of is a lumpy filling. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 May 2025

This leads to odd, lumpy nuclei with exaggerated shapes, known as gnocchi. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lumpy

• lumpy jaw

Rhymes for lumpy

• bumpy
• dumpy
• grumpy
• jumpy
• stumpy

Kids Definition

lumpy

adjective

ˈləm-pē 

lumpier; lumpiest

: having or full of lumps

lumpiness noun