1
as in lumps
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
despite his imposing size, he's no simple clod
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clumps
a small uneven mass
a clod of dirt stuck to the bottom of the bucket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clods
Maybe she is confused by this flat new geography of polished wood and granite with no trace of lumps or clods, where nothing is spongy.
—
María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Machines are shut down and shovels return, covering conduits with clods of soil.
—Steven Searcy, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Aug. 2025
María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Machines are shut down and shovels return, covering conduits with clods of soil.
—Steven Searcy, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clods
Noun
-
Add American cheese, remaining 1 cup cheddar, and reserved soaking water; stir vigorously until most of the cheese is melted (some small lumps of cheese will remain and that is OK) and water is absorbed.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Most lumps such as these are noncancerous lipomas, or fatty tumors, and a decision on whether to remove them is based on whether the lumps interfere with movements or threaten other issues.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Discrete clumps of fountaineque shoots grow eight inches high and a foot in diameter.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Only three chickens died in the bombing, Miguel said, pointing to clumps of feathers between broken bricks.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The grains of purple cornmeal are larger than those of the wheat flours and are intermixed with white‑blue pebbles and chunks of broken obsidian.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The frittata caprese resembled a flat, open-faced omelet with chunks of buffalo mozzarella, roasted tomato, and basil leaves strewn throughout.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There are complicated brain-chemistry factors involved that have to do with testosterone, and dopaminergic systems, and kappa-opioid receptors, all of which seem to add up to a Jim Gaffigan joke about how men are morons compared with their wives.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The Dilbert principle — traced back to a quote in a 1995 strip — posited that managers and higher-ups are actually successful morons whose stubbornness is confused for real leadership qualities.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
What sets Brule apart from fellow idiots in similar setups like Borat or Philomena Cunk is Reilly’s ability to present Brule with deep pathos and a sense of mystery, offering glimpses into a dark backstory, all made unsettling by the show’s analog-horror aesthetic.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
One gets the sense, reading DuBois, that Stanton’s fervor for political action stemmed from a dread of being governed by idiots.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our pants had been ripped from brush and windfalls, and wads of insulation were hanging out of mine.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Use those wads of wrapping paper leftover from a birthday, baby shower, or holiday bash to stuff the bottom and sides of the box and prevent shifting during shipping.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
People who criticize the food are losers, and will never understand.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Meta’s project is transforming Richland Parish into a chaotic boomtown almost overnight, with attendant winners and losers.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Inspired by both pre-Columbian cultures and modern scientific theories, Jensen made energetic diagrams of shapes, symbols, and numbers in loud complementary colors, using thick globs of paint; the results generate a fascinating friction.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clods. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
