excrescences
Unsightly protruding lumps
Excrescences are abnormal outgrowths—things that bulge or protrude from a surface where they don't belong.
The word applies literally to warts, tumors, or fungal growths on plants, and figuratively to anything that seems like an ugly or unnecessary addition: The shopping mall was an excrescence on the historic downtown.
The singular is excrescence.
Tissue that develops abnormally
- tumorsAbnormal tissue masses
- wartsRaised skin growths
- lesionsAreas of damaged tissue
- polypsFixed aquatic invertebrates
cysts · nodules · papillomas · fibromas · keratoses · dermatological · benign · malignant
Extensions developing from something
- gallsCauses persistent annoyance
- burlsKnotty trunk outgrowths
- cankersPlant tissue decay spots
- knotsSecured loops in rope
fungi · lichens · burrs · tubercles · nodules · swellings · abnormalities · deformities
Unnecessary surplus items
- redundanciesUnneeded duplications or repetitions
- excessSurplus beyond need
- surplusAmount exceeding requirement
- unnecessaryNot essential or required
superfluous · bloat · padding · filler · appendages · additions · accretions · encumbrances
Things that jut out
- appendagesProjecting body parts
- additionsThings joined to existing wholes
- ornamentsDecorative embellishments for display
- gargoylesDecorative architectural waterspouts
corbels · finials · outgrowths · embellishments · adornments · decorations · flourishes · attachments
growths
Tissue that develops abnormally
polyps · cysts · nodules · papillomas · fibromas · keratoses · dermatological · benign · malignant · biopsy
outgrowths
Extensions developing from something
knots · fungi · lichens · burrs · tubercles · nodules · swellings · abnormalities · deformities · witches broom
superfluities
Unnecessary surplus items
- redundanciesUnneeded duplications or repetitions
- excessSurplus beyond need
- surplusAmount exceeding requirement
unnecessary · superfluous · bloat · padding · filler · appendages · additions · accretions · encumbrances · baggage
protrusions
Things that jut out
- appendagesProjecting body parts
- additionsThings joined to existing wholes
- ornamentsDecorative embellishments for display
gargoyles · corbels · finials · outgrowths · embellishments · adornments · decorations · flourishes · attachments · projections
excrescencessmooth surfaces
indentations · concavities · depressions · smoothness · hollows
excrescenceslacunae
Absent portions, plural
absences · deficiencies · voids · gaps
excrescencesrefinements
Incremental quality upgrades
enhancements · embellishments · adornments · elegances · graces