1
as in chunks
a small uneven mass
she dumped a lump of clay on the table and started to sculpt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in swellings
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue
I got a good-sized lump on my head from that fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tumors
an abnormal mass of tissue
advised by her doctor to examine her breasts regularly for unusual lumps
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4
as in defeats
failure to win a contest
you can't win all the time, so learn to take your lumps in stride
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in idiots
a stupid person
gazed disgustedly at the lump her daughter had married
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in hulks
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
standing next to those ballet dancers, with their graceful way of moving, I felt like a lump
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in collects
to bring together in one body or place
when we lumped all of our pocket change together, we found that we had just enough a buy a carton of ice cream
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2
as in shuffles
to move heavily or clumsily
while I was on crutches, I was lumping about the house like an elephant
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lumps
Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 26 May 2026
This fermentation process separates the milk into curds (the thicker lumps of cheese) and whey (the liquid portion).
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 24 May 2026
Adding the grits to the pot slowly while stirring is key to the dish's creaminess and no lumps.
—Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
The Huskies, after winning the Big East championship and playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 24 years, took some losses in the transfer portal and took their lumps in the early season southern and western swings, losing 10 of their first 12 games.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Other recommendations from the report include allocating more funds for speed lumps and the quick-build program, as well as hiring staff to coordinate a citywide Safe Routes to School program, and exploring a citywide ban on right turns on red lights.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
But the lumps weren’t caused by poor hygiene or weight.
—Xitlalic Montelongo, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Type 1 looks like hard lumps or small pebbles, and suggests constipation.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Fears of sickness, of strange lumps and unexplained bleeding.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 31 May 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
Advertisement Breaking it down Artificial intelligence is an umbrella-term for several different technologies, from autonomous vehicles to chatbots—and the database lumps these together without a comprehensive structure.
—Harry Booth, Time, 19 Jan. 2026
Noun
The question becomes whether the Blues want to bring in a reinforcement now or let their recent high draft picks take their lumps.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 26 May 2026
This fermentation process separates the milk into curds (the thicker lumps of cheese) and whey (the liquid portion).
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 24 May 2026
Adding the grits to the pot slowly while stirring is key to the dish's creaminess and no lumps.
—Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
The Huskies, after winning the Big East championship and playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 24 years, took some losses in the transfer portal and took their lumps in the early season southern and western swings, losing 10 of their first 12 games.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Other recommendations from the report include allocating more funds for speed lumps and the quick-build program, as well as hiring staff to coordinate a citywide Safe Routes to School program, and exploring a citywide ban on right turns on red lights.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
But the lumps weren’t caused by poor hygiene or weight.
—Xitlalic Montelongo, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Type 1 looks like hard lumps or small pebbles, and suggests constipation.
—Rob Williams, EverydayHealth.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Fears of sickness, of strange lumps and unexplained bleeding.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
Critics also say Horvath lumps together different types of ed tech and doesn’t grapple with research that supports moderate use of computers in school.
—Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 31 May 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
Advertisement Breaking it down Artificial intelligence is an umbrella-term for several different technologies, from autonomous vehicles to chatbots—and the database lumps these together without a comprehensive structure.
—Harry Booth, Time, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lumps
Noun
-
And the green, gorgeous Honeydew Smash ($19) boasts the gem-like tint of Midori Melon Liqueur, made with both Dos Hombres Tequila and Mezcal and finished with a garnish of fruity melon chunks.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2026
-
Red Velvet Cake Batter is loaded with massive chunks of red velvet cake and swirls of cream cheese frosting.—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Infection is rapid, causing swellings in the lymph nodes (buboes) and leading to septicaemia and pulmonary infection.—
Matthew Binnicker,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These tumors tend to crop up near major blood vessels in the lungs, and blocking VEGF can prevent those blood vessels from repairing themselves, leading to potentially fatal hemorrhaging.—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
-
The pills’ effects eventually wane but recipients used them for significantly longer than the comparison group stayed on chemotherapy, reporting less pain and a better quality of life as their tumors shrank.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The Stars have lost four of their last five matches, getting outscored 11-0 in the four defeats.—
Fernando Ramirez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
For the British in North America, the war begun in 1754 had included a series of defeats, a relentless struggle against people who knew the terrain and who linked arms with the French.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Kids, let’s face it, are idiots by nature, and that’s not their fault.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
Freedom from screech No one wants to sit near idiots who just want to scream about their love of their team and provoke fans into fights, like the one Monday between Yankees and Rangers fans at Globe Life Field.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the Knicks clutch victory, customers win a free meal and the bar collects over $13,000 from its Kalshi contract.—
Ananya Chetia,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
Revelations about the contribution come ahead of a potentially historic primary election in which voters will decide whether to dramatically reshape how the state collects taxes.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
At the sound of morning prayers, an older Clarissa awakens from this dream and shuffles out to her lawn, where the leafy bush has been replaced with the industrial skyline of Lagos.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Plant the clumps along a sunny or partly sunny border.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
-
This time of year pollen can frequently be seen blowing through the air and forming clumps on the ground, as trees shed pollen as part of the reproductive process.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumps. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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