as in plump
having an excess of body fat
a roly-poly baby who grew into a slender child
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Recent Examples of roly-poly
But like a roly-poly, the gömböc is round in places.
—
Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 25 June 2025
Imagine instead your mother’s delight in you as a baby, in all your sweet-smelling, roly-poly nudeness.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
People were bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness — such clips have drawn in millions of viewers.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
All of them opted for the adorably roly-poly breed of French bulldog.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Explore a new deep-sea exhibit Giant isopods scurry like roly-poly bugs in a touch tank.
—John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
The damp, gray roly-poly creature is a bonafide celebrity.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 25 June 2025
Imagine instead your mother’s delight in you as a baby, in all your sweet-smelling, roly-poly nudeness.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
People were bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness — such clips have drawn in millions of viewers.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
All of them opted for the adorably roly-poly breed of French bulldog.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Explore a new deep-sea exhibit Giant isopods scurry like roly-poly bugs in a touch tank.
—John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
The damp, gray roly-poly creature is a bonafide celebrity.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roly-poly
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Both of those final round BBQ competitors own BBQ restaurants.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
22 July 2025
-
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
“Roly-poly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roly-poly. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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