Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Of poor quality; inferior: Used informally, especially in British English, to describe something that is very low in quality, unsatisfactory, or not working well.
   • Forming viscous or glutinous threads: Describing a liquid substance that is thick, sticky, and can be drawn out into strings or threads, like some syrups or mucus.
   • Resembling a rope: Having the long, strong, fibrous, or twisted appearance or texture of a rope.

Usage and Examples

• Describing poor quality:
  • The Wi-Fi signal in this hotel is really ropy; I can barely load a webpage.
  • He gave a ropy excuse for being late.
• Describing a viscous texture:
  • The melted cheese became ropy as it cooled.
  • The sick child had a ropy cough.
• Describing resemblance to rope:
  • The old sailor had ropy, muscular arms from years of hard work.
  • The ropy vines twisted around the ancient tree.

Advanced Usage

• "to feel ropy": (British informal) To feel unwell or ill.
  • I woke up feeling a bit ropy after the party last night.
• The informal sense meaning "poor quality" is often spelled as "ropey" in British English, though "ropy" is also correct.

Variants and Related Words

• Ropey (adj): An alternative spelling, primarily British, for the informal meaning of "poor quality" or "unwell."
• Ropiness (n): The state or quality of being ropy (e.g., in texture).
• Viscous (adj): Having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; a more formal synonym for the texture meaning.

Synonyms

• For poor quality: Shoddy, inferior, substandard, dodgy (informal).
• For viscous: Stringy, glutinous, viscid, thick.
• For resembling rope: Corded, fibrous, sinewy.

Antonyms

• For poor quality: Excellent, superior, first-rate.
• For viscous: Watery, thin, runny.
• For resembling rope: Smooth, soft.

Notes on Meaning

The word ropy can describe three distinct concepts: a subjective judgment of quality (informal), a specific physical property of a substance, and a visual or textural resemblance. The intended meaning is usually clear from the context (e.g., discussing a performance vs. discussing melted cheese vs. describing muscles).

Adjective

1. (British informal) very poor in quality
   • ropey food
   • a ropey performance
2. forming viscous or glutinous threads
3. of or resembling rope (or ropes) in being long and strong