1
as in clusters
a number of things considered as a unit
scattered clumps of houses were visible from the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in shuffles
to move heavily or clumsily
a child clumping around the house in her father's oversized boots
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 clumps
Angela England, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Sifting aerates the flour and helps to break up any clumps.
—Sarah Carey, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026
With these clumps of three, every single vote matters.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
Their ice maker expelled large clumps of wet salt, which, when rubbed, dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance.
—Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
Studies also suggest that the males of this rare freshwater species show off to potential partners by carrying objects like sticks and clumps of grass in their mouth.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Women generally receive fewer advanced therapies for PE, like thrombectomy (a procedure to pluck out a clot), and end up with more bleeding complications and a higher rate of lingering issues, like clumps of scar tissue in arteries that can increase blood pressure.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 10 Feb. 2026
For years, astronomers have debated whether planets this massive could form through core accretion, the slow, bottom-up process in which solid material clumps together into a dense core that then pulls in vast amounts of gas.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Add half of the beef, breaking up any clumps with tongs.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
Allison Deangelis, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
However, sometimes the abnormal IgA (the antibody that clumps up and causes problems) does run in families.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 15 Jan. 2026
Cocoa powder often clumps in its container.
—Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Young stars form within collapsing clouds of gas and dust, which flatten into broad protoplanetary disks where material gradually clumps into larger bodies.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
The alum then clumps the smaller, suspended fats together for easy removal.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Each plant can be counted on to produce a large number of flower stalks, and the clumps of sword-like foliage add shape and texture to the garden throughout the year.
—Angela England, The Spruce, 22 Feb. 2026
Sifting aerates the flour and helps to break up any clumps.
—Sarah Carey, Martha Stewart, 22 Feb. 2026
With these clumps of three, every single vote matters.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
Their ice maker expelled large clumps of wet salt, which, when rubbed, dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance.
—Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
Studies also suggest that the males of this rare freshwater species show off to potential partners by carrying objects like sticks and clumps of grass in their mouth.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Women generally receive fewer advanced therapies for PE, like thrombectomy (a procedure to pluck out a clot), and end up with more bleeding complications and a higher rate of lingering issues, like clumps of scar tissue in arteries that can increase blood pressure.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 10 Feb. 2026
For years, astronomers have debated whether planets this massive could form through core accretion, the slow, bottom-up process in which solid material clumps together into a dense core that then pulls in vast amounts of gas.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Add half of the beef, breaking up any clumps with tongs.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Like generations of potential treatments before it, KRSA-028 is designed to break down a protein called amyloid that clumps up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
—Allison Deangelis, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
However, sometimes the abnormal IgA (the antibody that clumps up and causes problems) does run in families.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 15 Jan. 2026
Cocoa powder often clumps in its container.
—Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Young stars form within collapsing clouds of gas and dust, which flatten into broad protoplanetary disks where material gradually clumps into larger bodies.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
The alum then clumps the smaller, suspended fats together for easy removal.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumps
Noun
-
The late-season fruits are incredibly showy, arranged in dense clusters circling the stems.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The Grand Hall's vineyard-style seating is arranged like clusters of grapes on different vines, meaning there’s no bad seat in the house.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Responding to 911 calls of a disorderly crowd jumping from and throwing objects off the bathroom roof, officers were relentlessly pelted with snowballs and ice chunks at close range that landed two in the hospital with head and face injuries.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
More than 200,000 Bay Staters remained in the dark Tuesday evening, with MEMA’s power outage map showing large chunks of Barnstable and Plymouth counties greatly affected.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That is not unique — Major League Baseball’s offseason shuffles along at a deliberate pace, just as the Dodgers historically have liked.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cook food in smaller batches instead to prevent splattering.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
-
French firm Danone has also recalled formula products, including some Aptamil and Cow & Gate batches in the UK.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As skyscrapers towered over them, their cheers, chants and stomps wove through downtown Dallas.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Idris the Valentine’s cow stomps in the footsteps of Squishmallows’ viral strawberry cow and the subsequent bestselling blueberry cow.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Hanging ornaments with care can be one of the highlights of the holiday season, but untangling wads of string lights is far less enjoyable.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The romantic dramedy, based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee, stars Anne Hathaway as Solène, a divorced mother who stumbles into a meet-cute with Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of a boy band.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Siegfried stumbles up just in time and tells Tall Man to walk away.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The problem is that everything else, from building massive solar arrays to lowering launch costs, moves far more slowly than today’s AI hype cycle.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Solar users can continue topping up via Charger 2 from rooftop panels or portable arrays, making full use of the Elite 300’s 1,200W solar input.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumps. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
