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.
Their naïveté mixed with Schrader’s stodgy solemnity is a buzzkill. Armond White, National Review, 25 Dec. 2024 In that sense, the current Egyptian regime bears more resemblance to the stodgy authoritarianism of southern Europe and Latin America in the mid–twentieth century than to the ebullient nationalism of the Nasser era. Nathan J. Brown, Foreign Affairs, 25 Jan. 2016 The return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua has bolstered the team’s receiving core but the Rams’ offense has been uncharacteristically stodgy under head coach Sean McVay. Ben Morse, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024 After a stodgy start to the season in attacking terms, Leeds became more fluid, which has coincided with the development of the former partnership. Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near stodgy

Cite this Entry

“Stodgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stodgy. Accessed 7 Jan. 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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