variants or less commonly ropey
ropier; ropiest
1
a
: capable of being drawn into a thread : viscous
also : tending to adhere in stringy masses
b
: having a gelatinous or slimy quality from bacterial or fungal contamination
ropy milk
ropy flour
2
a
: resembling rope
3
slang : poor, lousy
ropiness noun

Examples of ropy in a Sentence

The passengers looked a bit ropy after the bumpy flight. because the paint was so old, it was ropy and couldn't be smoothly applied to the wood
Recent Examples on the Web 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ropy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ropy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near ropy

Cite this Entry

“Ropy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ropy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ropy

adjective
ropier; ropiest
1
: capable of being drawn into a sticky thread : viscous
2
: resembling rope
ropiness noun

Medical Definition

ropy

adjective
variants also ropey
ropier; ropiest
1
: capable of being drawn into a thread : viscous
also : tending to adhere in stringy masses
2
: having a gelatinous or slimy quality from bacterial or fungal contamination
ropy milk
ropiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ropy

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