plural nopals or nopales
nō-ˈpä-lās 
-ˈpa-
1
: any of a genus (Nopalea) of cacti of Mexico and Central America that differ from the prickly pears in having erect petals and scarlet flowers with the stamens much longer than the petals
broadly
: prickly pear
2
: a fleshy young tender stem segment of the prickly pear cactus (especially Opuntia ficus-indica) or the nopal cactus used as food
Examples of nopal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Your Teeth and Bones Get Stronger A 1-cup serving of nopal provides 244 milligrams (mg) or 24% of your daily calcium needs.
—
Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025
The veranda, gifted by the Tricentennial Celebration Commission, includes a heron and nopal (cactus) as its centerpiece.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
Moreover, the nopal is rich in essential amino acids that cut down water weight (2).
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Oils are extracted from the seeds of the nopal’s fruit, then blended with natural butters and lemongrass oil, as well as cactus fibers that purify and exfoliate skin.
—Ella Riley-Adams Angela Koh Jameson Montgomery Jameson Montgomery Tom Delavan, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
That is the sign of the insects working beneath, drawing nourishment from the juices of the nopal and protecting themselves with the waxy powder.
—Fernanda Pesce, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
Her work centers around the cactus or nopal, which has deep cultural significance as a symbol of hope and endurance that is depicted on the Mexican flag and is part of the origin story of Aztec culture.
—Dallas News, 14 Oct. 2022
That is the true taste of tuna, the fruit of the nopal.
—Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022
Here, the Saporito family, hailing from Tabasco, Mexico, presses out a rainbow of seven different types of corn tortillas doctored up with homemade flavoring mixes—magenta beetroot, fiery orange guajillo, green nopal.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022
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Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025
The veranda, gifted by the Tricentennial Celebration Commission, includes a heron and nopal (cactus) as its centerpiece.
—Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
Moreover, the nopal is rich in essential amino acids that cut down water weight (2).
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Oils are extracted from the seeds of the nopal’s fruit, then blended with natural butters and lemongrass oil, as well as cactus fibers that purify and exfoliate skin.
—Ella Riley-Adams Angela Koh Jameson Montgomery Jameson Montgomery Tom Delavan, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
That is the sign of the insects working beneath, drawing nourishment from the juices of the nopal and protecting themselves with the waxy powder.
—Fernanda Pesce, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
Her work centers around the cactus or nopal, which has deep cultural significance as a symbol of hope and endurance that is depicted on the Mexican flag and is part of the origin story of Aztec culture.
—Dallas News, 14 Oct. 2022
That is the true taste of tuna, the fruit of the nopal.
—Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022
Here, the Saporito family, hailing from Tabasco, Mexico, presses out a rainbow of seven different types of corn tortillas doctored up with homemade flavoring mixes—magenta beetroot, fiery orange guajillo, green nopal.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Nopal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nopal. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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