1
as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
dumpy little toddlers growing into lanky children
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
we could only find rooms at a dumpy motel on the outskirts of the city
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dumpy
The amazing thing is that, for all the history that came through its doors, KCR was a dumpy little studio with a broadcast board on the way out.
—
Dante Ross, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2023
Yes, the mall is underperforming, and in the middle of the concourse, there are too many dumpy little kiosks selling souvenirs.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Feb. 2023
She’s not allowed to be anything more than the dumpy friend on TV.
—Sarah Madaus, SELF, 3 Feb. 2023
Goloborodko’s once disappointed father (Viktor Saraykin) is suddenly beaming with pride and determined to renovate the family’s dumpy apartment in palatial style (and to evict neighboring tenants, until his wife objects).
—David Klion, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Dante Ross, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2023
Yes, the mall is underperforming, and in the middle of the concourse, there are too many dumpy little kiosks selling souvenirs.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Feb. 2023
She’s not allowed to be anything more than the dumpy friend on TV.
—Sarah Madaus, SELF, 3 Feb. 2023
Goloborodko’s once disappointed father (Viktor Saraykin) is suddenly beaming with pride and determined to renovate the family’s dumpy apartment in palatial style (and to evict neighboring tenants, until his wife objects).
—David Klion, The New Republic, 7 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumpy
Adjective
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Megalodon’s teeth resemble those of a modern great white shark, so some scientists previously concluded that the two sharks had a similar stout body shape.—
Kate Golembiewski,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
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Landry is slightly undersized, but nonetheless a stout edge-setter against the run; his greatest play strength a year ago.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That sounds logical, but a healthy housing market needs some extra properties to account for old or dilapidated homes that are demolished or taken out of use – not to mention some vacancies so people can move around.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
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The hotel is founded and managed by locals, who transformed a dilapidated bed-and-breakfast into a six-acre luxury hotel in 2001.—
Maya Kachroo-Levine,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Tortellini are plump and tender after simmering in the sauce—no need to cook them before adding to the pan.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2025
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Pre-soaked for easy use, each pad combines retinol and collagen for smoothing and added firmness, making your skin feel refreshed, plump and revitalized in one easy step.—
Maria Correa,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This was to help end the puppy mill industry, where dogs are bred en masse, leading them to be born and raised in filthy and neglected conditions.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Feb. 2025
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If coordinated correctly, Trump’s tariff threats offer an enormous opportunity for America’s neglected waterfront.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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With the costume’s feet at knee-level, an elevated stage (and smoke machine) helped give the appearance that Klum was walking around on E.T.’s characteristically stumpy legs.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN,
1 Nov. 2024
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The heron turns out to be a stumpy man in a costume.—
Moeko Fujii,
The New Yorker,
2 May 2024
Adjective
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Cooper concluded that a megalodon would have been a stocky, powerful shark—measuring some 52 feet (16 meters) in length with a body mass of 67.86 tons—able to execute bursts of high speed to attack prey, much like the significantly smaller great white shark.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
Ars Technica,
9 Mar. 2025
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But the stocky, six-foot-two Aucklander’s addition to the predictions has sparked the bookmakers’ interest.—
Julia Ranney,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Parker Hall The Best Workout Headphones for Moving Around Constantly Rock your inner jock with a pair of sturdy, sweatproof, and tangle-proof headphones.—
Brad Bourque,
WIRED,
15 Mar. 2025
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The exterior is made from a sturdy and durable polycarbonate material that won’t easily wear and tear, even after longhaul travel.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Graham has a stubby build and some prospects are more athletic.—
Matt Barrows,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
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Elephants, for instance, became tapirs, with stubby trunks and legs.—
Caroline Winterer / Made by History,
TIME,
14 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumpy. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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