as in belly
an enlarged or bulging abdomen
Santa is depicted as a white-bearded man with a big paunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paunch
Still — the slim build, though it’s now accented with a slight paunch.
—
Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
And after conferring with Haynes, Melton decided to gain 40 pounds for the role, smoothing out his sharp jawline and adding a suburban-dad paunch.
—Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2023
My bullet had hit behind the shoulder and exited the paunch.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 7 Sep. 2023
He’s played by Slattery’s Mad Men compatriot Jon Hamm with a bit of a scruff, a bit of a paunch, and a touch of melancholy.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for paunch 
Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
And after conferring with Haynes, Melton decided to gain 40 pounds for the role, smoothing out his sharp jawline and adding a suburban-dad paunch.
—Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2023
My bullet had hit behind the shoulder and exited the paunch.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 7 Sep. 2023
He’s played by Slattery’s Mad Men compatriot Jon Hamm with a bit of a scruff, a bit of a paunch, and a touch of melancholy.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for paunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunch
Noun
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This inflates your belly with gas, giving them a better view inside.—
Joy Emeh,
Health,
15 Feb. 2025
-
These geckos have slender bodies, large eyes, and distinct coloring, with males displaying a bright yellow belly.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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She was fitted with a stoma in her stomach, which provides an external way for waste to leave the body, where it’s collected in an ostomy bag.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
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The rescuers put tow straps under her stomach and front legs, officers said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacramento Bee,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For Valenti’s current foster pig, a black and white potbelly named Arnold, that means screaming around 5 p.m. demanding to be fed for dinner time or digging up acorns buried by squirrels in the backyard.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
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The train car features a sitting area, kitchenette, gas potbelly stove, bathroom and king-sized bed.—
Celia Fernandez,Mickey Todiwala,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near paunch
Cite this Entry
“Paunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunch. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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