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
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
Boyega had suggested a portly version of the young Sidney Poitier crossed with the facile charisma of the young Denzel Washington.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Aug. 2021
He was locked away to serve several life sentences, aging into a portly man with a thick white beard.
—New York Times, 13 June 2021
One of my favorite shots is of a portly man in a business suit, rubbing his hands together over and over, in an age-old gesture of distress.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for portly
Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
Boyega had suggested a portly version of the young Sidney Poitier crossed with the facile charisma of the young Denzel Washington.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Aug. 2021
He was locked away to serve several life sentences, aging into a portly man with a thick white beard.
—New York Times, 13 June 2021
One of my favorite shots is of a portly man in a business suit, rubbing his hands together over and over, in an age-old gesture of distress.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for portly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portly
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
-
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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Each branch of the military sets its own fitness and grooming standards, with new male Air Force recruits now allowed to have 26 percent body fat, up from 20 percent, and women 36 percent, up from 28 percent.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
14 Mar. 2025
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Kennedy has inspired Steak n' Shake to switch back to tallow — which is rendered beef fat — for cooking its fries.—
Sarah Boden,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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France has had a distinguished career as a journalist, activist and filmmaker, having focused primarily on the LGBTQ+ movement.—
Tom White,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2025
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Serling wrote 92 of the 156 black-and-white sci-fi fantasy episodes throughout the five-year run, with distinguished writers Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson contributing 36 more top chapters.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Rocket Arena will later host men's first round March Madness games on March 21 and 23.—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
12 Mar. 2025
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The combination of a round brush and hair dryer lifts roots while detangling and smoothing hair.—
Kylee McGuigan,
Vogue,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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