as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
stumpy penguins become agile swimmers the moment they hit the water
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stumpy
Clearly, this was not some unmarked but common alternative route; it was studded with stumpy pine trees, and the terrain made for hard going.
—
Rachel Monroe, Outside Online, 16 Oct. 2018
At one point, someone on InSight’s science team wondered if the lander’s somewhat stumpy arm could prod the solar panels, or perhaps scrape off some dust.
—Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2022
The fish obtain their unique shape because their back fin stops growing after birth and instead folds into itself, creating a stumpy rudder called a clavus, per National Geographic.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2021
These were kings, calmer and more aloof than the royals, going through their annual molt, their stumpy bodies a mess of patchy old plumage being pushed up and out by new growth.
—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for stumpy
Rachel Monroe, Outside Online, 16 Oct. 2018
At one point, someone on InSight’s science team wondered if the lander’s somewhat stumpy arm could prod the solar panels, or perhaps scrape off some dust.
—Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2022
The fish obtain their unique shape because their back fin stops growing after birth and instead folds into itself, creating a stumpy rudder called a clavus, per National Geographic.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2021
These were kings, calmer and more aloof than the royals, going through their annual molt, their stumpy bodies a mess of patchy old plumage being pushed up and out by new growth.
—Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for stumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumpy
Adjective
-
The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder needs to be better at anchoring, as he too often was driven into the backfield by stout nose tackles last season.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
-
Faison rushed for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns for the Aggies last fall, averaging a stout 5.6 yards per carry.—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The New Shepard capsule's stubby single-stage booster roared to life just after 9:38 a.m. EDT, throttled up to full thrust and smoothly climbed away from Blue Origin's launch site near Van Horn, Texas.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
29 June 2025
-
Videos posted to TikTok, Instagram and X in recent weeks show men braving blades very close to their eyes, in barber shops from Turkey to New Zealand, in a quest for stubby lashes.—
Nicole Mowbray,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Small and stocky birds perch, hunched over, on the treetops and branches of Lake Okeechobee on the edge of Florida’s swampy Everglades for the better part of winter.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
-
By contrast, the large but not gigantic great white is fairly stocky.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Remember, most healthy plant roots should be plump and white in color.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 July 2025
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Are your tomato vines covered in plump green fruits that just won't turn red?—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Trifles are the high heels of desserts, standing tall and showing out in a crowd of squatty pies, sheet cakes, and brownies.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
-
Some even find that using the squat position, or using a squatty potty, can help reduce straining and promote defecation, said Dr. Xue.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
Seek shelter in a sturdy structure until the storm has passed.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 July 2025
-
Photograph: Kat Merck AmazonBasics Small Packing Cubes for Travel, 4-Piece-Set $20 $14 (30% off) Amazon Not quite as compressive as our top pick, these Amazon Basics cubes offer sturdy mesh windows and durable fabric—a budget-friendly intro to packing cubes.—
Parker Hall,
Wired News,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumpy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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