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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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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Argireline can be found in Estée Lauder’s serum alongside AHAs to promote a plump, youthful complexion.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
12 Feb. 2025
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Get The Recipe 09 of 25 Lemony Shrimp Pasta Flex your cooking expertise with this stunning pasta, featuring plump pink shrimp, sweet fennel, and fresh basil.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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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Opposite is the fat and welcoming British Library, composed of 10 million bricks, a number that merely nips at the toes of the 60-million-brick St. Pancras Hotel next door.—
Francesca Carington,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Having low insulin sensitivity, or insulin resistance as it is sometimes called, leads to muscle, fat and liver cells failing to respond to insulin—the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Page also was a distinguished stage actress, appearing in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant in 1980 and receiving the Moliere Award in 1996 for Colombe.—
Rhett Bartlett,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Feb. 2025
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The walls of the Oval Office are adorned with portraits of presidents past, including the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, a fitting nod to the history of such a distinguished work space.—
Ross O'Keefe,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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However, the round imprints of tl\e big cougar we’re melted and indistinct.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
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In the end, Herro became the fifth Heat player to win the 3-point contest with a final round score of 24.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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