lumpish

/'lʌmpiʃ/

Thân thiện

A student gave a lumpish response to the teacher's question.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Mentally sluggish; dull or stupid: Describes a person who is slow in thought, lacking quickness of mind or intelligence.
   • Heavy and clumsy in form or movement: Describes something or someone that is bulky, awkward, or lacking grace.

Usage

The word "lumpish" is used to describe a person's mental state or physical appearance. It is a descriptive, often critical term. It is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "be" or "seem").

Examples

• Describing mental slowness:
  • His lumpish response to the complex problem frustrated the entire team.
  • She felt lumpish and uninspired after the long, boring lecture.
• Describing physical clumsiness:
  • The lumpish figure of the guard blocked the narrow doorway.
  • He moved with a lumpish gait that made him seem much older.

Advanced Usage

• In literary or formal critique: Used to describe characters or objects that embody dullness or ungainliness.
  • The author portrayed the antagonist not as evil, but as a lumpish, uncomprehending force of nature.

Variants and Related Words

• Lump (n): A compact mass of a substance, especially one without a definite shape.
• Lump (v): To accept or tolerate something unpleasant because one must.
• Lumpen (adj): Relating to or characteristic of the lumpenproletariat (the unthinking, unorganized lower class); often used similarly to mean dull or crude.
• Lumpy (adj): Full of or covered with lumps.

Synonyms

• Obtuse: Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.
• Stolid: Calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.
• Dull: Lacking interest or excitement; slow to understand.
• Clumsy: Awkward in movement or handling things.
• Ponderous: Slow and clumsy because of great weight.

Antonyms

• Agile: Able to move quickly and easily.
• Astute: Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people.
• Nimble: Quick and light in movement or action; agile.
• Keen: Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm; intellectually sharp.

Idioms and Phrases

• No direct idioms use "lumpish" as a core component. However, the related word "lump" appears in idioms like:
  • Lump in one's throat: A feeling of tightness in the throat caused by strong emotion.
  • Lump it: To accept a situation, however unwillingly (e.g., If you don't like the decision, you can just lump it).

Học thuật

Adjective

1. mentally sluggish

Từ đồng nghĩa

• lumpen
• unthinking