variants
also ropey
as in thick
being of a consistency that resists flow
because the paint was so old, it was ropy and couldn't be smoothly applied to the wood
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Recent Examples of ropy
Closing out the first decade of sound film, Son of Frankenstein has far more ropey dialogue than entrancing atmosphere or a memorable arc for the Monster.
—
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
With a rocker’s bleached-out shag, ropy arms vined with tattoos and jangly silver bracelets, and skintight jeans slashed by rips and rivets, Mr. Webb was a proudly resolute bearer of the punk-glam torch, even as the decades moved inexorably along.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2020
Nearly 2m Ukrainians have arrived since 2014, pushed by a ropy national economy and a war in the country’s east, and pulled by higher wages in Poland.
—The Economist, 22 Feb. 2020
Calamari aren’t the usual thin threads of squid, but thick, ropy rectangles, piping hot and partnered with an Asian-inflected, peanut-tamarind-miso dipping sauce.
—Rand Richards Cooper, courant.com, 18 Sep. 2019
Honda’s updates to the Fit’s suspension and steering for 2018 only slightly button down its ropy behavior.
—Alexander Stoklosa, Car and Driver, 19 Jan. 2018
Pastas are a forceful presence on the tight menu, including ropy rye-flour bucatini coiling among fat fresh clams and chunks of pancetta.
—Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 13 Dec. 2017
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
With a rocker’s bleached-out shag, ropy arms vined with tattoos and jangly silver bracelets, and skintight jeans slashed by rips and rivets, Mr. Webb was a proudly resolute bearer of the punk-glam torch, even as the decades moved inexorably along.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2020
Nearly 2m Ukrainians have arrived since 2014, pushed by a ropy national economy and a war in the country’s east, and pulled by higher wages in Poland.
—The Economist, 22 Feb. 2020
Calamari aren’t the usual thin threads of squid, but thick, ropy rectangles, piping hot and partnered with an Asian-inflected, peanut-tamarind-miso dipping sauce.
—Rand Richards Cooper, courant.com, 18 Sep. 2019
Honda’s updates to the Fit’s suspension and steering for 2018 only slightly button down its ropy behavior.
—Alexander Stoklosa, Car and Driver, 19 Jan. 2018
Pastas are a forceful presence on the tight menu, including ropy rye-flour bucatini coiling among fat fresh clams and chunks of pancetta.
—Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 13 Dec. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ropy
thick
Adjective
-
Dandelion seeds easily take hold in bare spots, so keep your lawn thick and healthy.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to a thick webbed strap that's adjustable, the bag features two exterior zippered pockets with RFID-blocking technology to protect important travel essentials like cell phones, hotel room keys, passports, and credit cards.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ropy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ropy. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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