dumpy

adjective

ˈdəm-pē 

dumpier; dumpiest

1

: being short and thick in build : squat

2

: shabby, dingy

dumpily

ˈdəm-pə-lē 

adverb

dumpiness

ˈdəm-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of dumpy

• stout
• plump
• stumpy
• stocky
• sturdy
• stubby
• squatty
• squat
• thick
• husky

Examples of dumpy in a Sentence

a dumpy guy in his forties

dumpy little toddlers growing into lanky children

Recent Examples on the Web

Embarrassed by her own overworked single mother (Tara Mallen) and her dumpy, small house, Minnie begins spending time with Callie’s grieving mom, Helen (Sophie Okonedo), whose worldly elegance stands out in this pious small town. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026

And this is in a nice, pretty on-campus facility, not the old, dumpy Astrodome (although the Astrodome is still up, which is another story). —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026

Sunday brings the end of another dumpy Miami Dolphins season, but not to the problems needing solutions or the organizational mess that demands more than a offseason cleanup on Aisle 5. —Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026

Newsrooms are closing even faster, as downsized staffs take refuge at smaller, dumpier dumps. —Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

English dialect dump lump

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dumpy

• dumpy level

Rhymes for dumpy

• bumpy
• grumpy
• jumpy
• lumpy
• stumpy

Kids Definition

dumpy

adjective

ˈdəm-pē 

dumpier; dumpiest

1

: short and thick in build : squat

2

: shabby sense 2b

dumpiness noun