as in plump
having a large protruding abdomen
not surprisingly, the new Hollywood biopic casts a young, athletically trim actor in the role of the paunchy, balding artist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of paunchy
Unlike castrati of the 17th and 18th centuries — always beardless, and typically tall and paunchy — Mariño is short and lithe, and was already sporting a five o’clock shadow on a recent afternoon walk with Leia, his Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
—
New York Times, 27 May 2022
The father, Alexei Shostakov (played by David Harbour), is now a bearded and paunchy Soviet-era superhero known as Red Guardian, the counterpart of Captain America.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
One recent late afternoon, a group of paunchy middle-aged men seated in plastic chairs on the sidewalk debated measures to fight the virus.
—Renata Brito, Anchorage Daily News, 26 May 2020
The puzzled batter swings at the next pitch, grounds it to short, and is astonished to see the paunchy second-base umpire shifting to his right to field the ball, while the shortstop tries to coach his footwork.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 4 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for paunchy 
New York Times, 27 May 2022
The father, Alexei Shostakov (played by David Harbour), is now a bearded and paunchy Soviet-era superhero known as Red Guardian, the counterpart of Captain America.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
One recent late afternoon, a group of paunchy middle-aged men seated in plastic chairs on the sidewalk debated measures to fight the virus.
—Renata Brito, Anchorage Daily News, 26 May 2020
The puzzled batter swings at the next pitch, grounds it to short, and is astonished to see the paunchy second-base umpire shifting to his right to field the ball, while the shortstop tries to coach his footwork.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 4 Apr. 2020
See all Example Sentences for paunchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunchy
Adjective
-
Madonna kept the glam simple with a sleek, thick winged liner and a plump nude lip.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
16 Jan. 2025
-
It’s also loaded with moisturizing ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and vitamin E, to make sure your lips stay plump and protected.—
Jessica Kasparian,
SELF,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Peanut butter’s high fat content and low moisture prevent the growth of microorganisms like bacteria and mold, and are key factors in its long shelf life.—
Annie Peterson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Jan. 2025
-
The Alpha sports chunky fat tires for city riding and beyond, terrain-soaking adjustable front squish and a mid-mount motor with torque sensor.—
Paul Ridden,
New Atlas,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Perun summoned a potbellied officer from the T.D.F. brigade to the operations center.—
Luke Mogelson,
The New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2024
-
What could be more luxurious than checking in without having to wade through a maze of slot machines and a cloud of cigarette smoke, dodging potbellied dudes in tank tops?—
Jay McInerney,
Town & Country,
18 June 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near paunchy
Cite this Entry
“Paunchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunchy. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share