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
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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
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 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
And a reshaped district in parts of western Virginia lumps together three Democratic-leaning college towns to offset other Republican voters.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Traoré took his lumps early but started and excelled down the stretch.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Very hard, small lumps or watery, soupy liquid are both cause for concern.
—Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Otherwise, Florida’s corners have been inconsistent, taking their lumps against a deep, talented receiving corps.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
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
Remember, some lumps are preferred for the loftiest results.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 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
And a reshaped district in parts of western Virginia lumps together three Democratic-leaning college towns to offset other Republican voters.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Traoré took his lumps early but started and excelled down the stretch.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Very hard, small lumps or watery, soupy liquid are both cause for concern.
—Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Otherwise, Florida’s corners have been inconsistent, taking their lumps against a deep, talented receiving corps.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
-
There are tender chunks of organic rotisserie chicken, Little Gem lettuce, tiny garlicky croutons, avocado, parm, and a light coating of Caesar dressing (in addition to the cup on the side), in a grain-free Coyotas tortilla wrap.—
Kate Kassin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
-
One of the biggest chunks out of family budgets?—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 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
-
Sam Butler, who is the mother of a seven-year-old daughter named Florence, was initially diagnosed with giant cell tumors (GCTs) in 2020.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The mRNA technology involves producing individualized vaccines, developed after patients have their pancreatic tumors removed and analyzed.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The team had shown signs of regression, not least in heavy defeats to Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The back-to-back losses this weekend at Coors Field are the Dodgers’ first consecutive defeats of the season.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Doesn’t matter to all the freakin’ idiots who dress up like Santa.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Payment processors aren’t idiots, and a huge number of new charges was likely to arouse suspicion.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
New groups participating this year included the Lifelong Learning Institute from Waubonsie Community College and the SAYv Animal organization as well as Furnish Forward, a not-for-profit that collects furniture and provides it to people who can’t afford to furnish their homes.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Water that collects there will slowly soak back into the landscape over a 24- to 36-hour period.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 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
-
These clumps can smother grass and promote disease.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Then, tumble dry on low heat with clean tennis balls or dryer balls to break up clumps and restore fluffiness.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lumps. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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