1
as in plump
having an excess of body fat
a portly gentleman who loved to cook for his family and friends
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
walked with the portly grace of the grande dame that she was
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portly
In Facebook groups dedicated to Texas barbecue fandom, a recently popular meme shows a portly man dancing on a stripper pole.
—
Elizabeth Findell, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2022
Made of steel, the watch had in its dial a sketch of a portly man, his face framed by round glasses and his broad shoulders clad in a wide-lapelled jacket.
—Sonia Paul, Wired, 1 Mar. 2022
That’s when the portly orphan, who was riding in the van with her, slices off her face to wear it as his own.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2022
One day, Lem held forth about H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to a portly man who turned out to run a publishing house.
—Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for portly
Elizabeth Findell, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2022
Made of steel, the watch had in its dial a sketch of a portly man, his face framed by round glasses and his broad shoulders clad in a wide-lapelled jacket.
—Sonia Paul, Wired, 1 Mar. 2022
That’s when the portly orphan, who was riding in the van with her, slices off her face to wear it as his own.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2022
One day, Lem held forth about H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to a portly man who turned out to run a publishing house.
—Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for portly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portly
Adjective
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During early October’s harvest, when golden Chasselas grapes are at their plump and juicy peak, explore medieval villages and 10th-century stone walls on foot, like on a 6.8-mile hike from St. Saphorin to Lutry, and visit cellars aboard the Lavaux Express train.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
18 July 2025
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Ripe cherries should be large and plump, while undersized cherries likely need more time to mature.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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The far more imposing limit is MLS’s global standing.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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And on the other hand, in a world where most of their top arms remain healthy and effective, the Dodgers could possess one of the most imposing starting pitching staffs in recent memory.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As if the fleeting raindrops themselves were fat, lazy flies.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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Peabody closed Tuesday at $17.34, and the stock pays a dividend yield of 1.7% — fatter than the S & P 500 yield of 1.18%.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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The organizers of the 2024 Games in Paris allowed some of that city’s most distinguished landmarks to be utilized as part of the spectacle.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
23 July 2025
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In June, Adam Sadovsky, with nearly 18 years of experience at Google, most recently as a distinguished software engineer and senior director at DeepMind, decamped to Microsoft.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Both of those final round BBQ competitors own BBQ restaurants.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
22 July 2025
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Of course, Funko Pops! are instantly recognizable: oversized heads, small bodies, and those signature large, round black eyes.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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