stodgier; stodgiest
1
: having a rich filling quality : heavy
stodgy bread
2
: moving in a slow plodding way especially as a result of physical bulkiness
3
: boring, dull
out on a peaceful rather stodgy Sunday boat tripEdna Ferber
4
: extremely old-fashioned : hidebound
received a pompously Victorian letter from his stodgy fatherE. E. S. Montagu
5
a
: drab
b
: dowdy
stodgily adverb
stodginess noun

Examples of stodgy in a Sentence

the sitcom was offbeat and interesting in its first season, but has since become predictable and stodgy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The stodgy tradition, after all, allowed committee chairmen, usually southern Democratic (and segregationist) House members, to hold those coveted positions for decades. David Mark, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025 Bohemian Paris had won a victory over stodgy London, which first dared to stage a private performance of Salome in May 1905. E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025 Unveiled to the world in 2018 at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the presidential paintings of the Obamas broke from the pattern of stodgy official portraits before them by featuring bold colors, evocative imagery and subtle homages to Black American history. Kaila Philo, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2025 Kate could’ve even returned the favor by embarrassing Reese at some stodgy American awards show! Justin Curto, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stodgy

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stodgy was in 1854

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Cite this Entry

“Stodgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stodgy. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

stodgy

adjective
stodgier; stodgiest
1
: moving in a slow struggling way especially as a result of physical bulkiness
2
: having no excitement or interest : dull, boring
a stodgy day
3
: very old-fashioned in attitude or point of view
stodgily adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on stodgy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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