as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
the stocky boxer's strength and speed more than make up for his opponent's longer reach
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stocky
The stocky little elephant, not far from Rome’s Pantheon, is a frequent stop for tourists.
—
ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Chef Neel Kajale of Adda prefers a short and stocky German-style chef’s knife.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Feb. 2026
While the Heat over the years have succeeded with smaller guards, the majority of success stories with those of diminutive stature are those with stockier builds, such as Tim Hardaway, Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry or even current bulldog Davion Mitchell.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
The Sturdy Seat The Chisel Lounge Chair by HAY is a delightfully stocky option.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stocky
ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Chef Neel Kajale of Adda prefers a short and stocky German-style chef’s knife.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Feb. 2026
While the Heat over the years have succeeded with smaller guards, the majority of success stories with those of diminutive stature are those with stockier builds, such as Tim Hardaway, Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry or even current bulldog Davion Mitchell.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
The Sturdy Seat The Chisel Lounge Chair by HAY is a delightfully stocky option.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stocky
Adjective
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Nola held his own against a stout Venezuela lineup, holding them to just one run — a Eugenio Suarez solo home run on a curveball outside the zone in the fourth inning — while striking out three.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
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All have the stout beak that gives the bird its name.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Donica, across from her, is on sturdier ground, fearsome to the point of awe-inspiring in the sustained fury of his fermatas, though his considerable force as a performer longs to be shaped more cleanly.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Born into a working-class family, Golubski was a heavyset man who had considered becoming a priest before entering the police force.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
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Pam was originally [written as] a heavyset girl, so all the jokes on my audition were fat jokes.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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It’s packed with maracujá oil and other nourishing ingredients to condition and plump, all while delivering high-shine, hydrating color that actually stays put.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
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Beds are plump, bathtubs are deep and all are designed to optimize the island’s brilliant natural light.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Short stubby legs and a rounded headboard also amplify the twee appeal of the frame.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
13 Mar. 2026
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Alvarezsaurs were predominantly small, with stubby but powerful forelimbs, long and gracile hindlimbs and lightly built skulls.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As the Presidential election approached, Kabila was increasingly unpopular, and a viable opponent was found: Félix Tshisekedi, a thickset, pugnacious man who was the son of a prominent opposition leader.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
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Even though thickset Mandarin characters on every wall extolled the virtues of the Chinese Dream, Xi Jinping's campaign to rejuvenate Chinese nationalism, the town had a frontier feel, as if Beijing's hawkeyed gaze hadn't yet crept over the moonscape mountains.—
Chris Schalkx,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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One such pet, Lainey, a husky shepherd, was found after going missing in Arizona with the help of a neighbor's Ring camera.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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The team can help plan reindeer and husky rides, reindeer farm visits, snowmobiles tours across the area’s fells and taiga forests, or Aurora-chasing tours, guided by local experts.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stocky. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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