belly 1 of 2

noun

ˈbe-lē How to pronounce belly (audio)
Definition of bellynext
1
as in stomach
a need or desire for food as dinnertime approached he could think only of his belly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corporation
an enlarged or bulging abdomen worked hard to get rid of his belly in time to attend his class reunion

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3
as in abdomen
the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis a baby with a round little belly

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4
as in soul
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions in my belly I knew that he wasn't telling the truth, as the details of his story just didn't add up

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belly

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point the sails slowly bellied as the wind picked up

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to snake
to move slowly with the body close to the ground recruits were forced to belly over the obstacle course under simulated enemy fire

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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 belly
Noun
Pushing on or leaning against something that compresses the belly may increase the discomfort. — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026 As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 However, the version of Greg that came clean to Denise about being fired, stopped drinking, and stepped up for his family now resides in the belly of a dinosaur. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 In the early days of plane Wi-Fi, aircraft had what were essentially giant mobile hot spots attached to their bellies, which would connect to cell towers on the ground. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for belly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for belly
  1. stomach
  2. fat
  3. abdomen
  4. soul
  5. protrude
  6. snake
  7. hunger
  8. paunch
Noun
  • This includes the skeletal muscles that Rocky uses to sprint and box, the muscles that allow your heart to beat, the muscles that squeeze food through your stomach and intestines, and the muscles that open up your airways to breathe.
    — Linda M. Boland, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Your friend revealed something to you that turns your stomach.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of stomach
Noun
  • Key Takeaways Eating raw sunflower seeds is a simple way to enjoy their benefits, including vitamin E, magnesium, and healthy fats.
    — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Chocolate may have seductive ingredients like fat and sugar, but the chocolate bar doesn’t change its recipe based on who is eating it.
    — Larry Magid, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of fat
Noun
  • These include a severe or persistent headache, changes in vision such as blurred vision or seeing spots, pain in the upper abdomen, significant swelling of the face or hands, shortness of breath, and nausea or vomiting later in pregnancy.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • When the witness tried to intervene, Serrano Domenech pulled a firearm from a fanny pack and shot the victim in the abdomen, the affidavit states.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of abdomen
Noun
  • But what made this particular family sing-along remarkable was that one of the lead voices belonged to soul legend Bobby Womack.
    — Morena Duwe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The man, despite the cold, hadn’t grabbed a jacket and didn’t seem to know a soul still left on the field.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of soul
Verb
  • Tropical Hibiscus Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), as the name suggests, is native to tropical climates in Asia and produces dramatic, vibrant flowers that can grow up to 6 inches in diameter with protruding stamens.
    — Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Akhenaten, who may have been the boy-king’s father, was depicted in artwork as having wide hips and a protruding belly, which stood out from portraits of other Egyptian royalty.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Verb
  • The Premier League trophy was kept out of the way, not shown off, apart from the blazing cover picture in the souvenir programme which ensured queues snaking through the crowd to purchase this special memento.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • When her foster mom is preparing dinner, Lu sneakily samples from her siblings’ meals, snaking her tongue into each bowl.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of snake
Noun
  • But that disappointment comes with a whole heck of a lot of hunger for Sanchez, a senior defender who earned all-state honors last fall.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Here are details on tiny frozen pancakes that promise to quash hunger and please even the pickiest of eaters and those that are likely to end up as back-seat crumbles.
    — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of hunger
Noun
  • The hair may be grayer, the paunches a little more pronounced, and the joints a little creakier, but the Jackass promise of delivering the missing link between the Three Stooges and a snuff film remains.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026
  • There is a funny thread of everyone thinking Woody’s getting a bit old – rocking a paunch and a poncho – while Buzz pines for Jessie.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Definition of paunch

Phrases Containing belly

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bellwethers
belly
bellyache
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Cite this Entry

“Belly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/belly. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on belly

Nglish: Translation of belly for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about belly

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