plural roly-polies
1
: a roly-poly person or thing
2
British
: a sweet dough spread with a filling, rolled, and baked or steamed
called also roly-poly pudding
Examples of roly-poly in a Sentence
Adjective
a roly-poly baby who grew into a slender child
Recent Examples on the Web
James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
People were bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness — such clips have drawn in millions of viewers.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
All of them opted for the adorably roly-poly breed of French bulldog.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Explore a new deep-sea exhibit Giant isopods scurry like roly-poly bugs in a touch tank.
—John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
The damp, gray roly-poly creature is a bonafide celebrity.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Understanding Armadillos Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo looks like, with its roly-poly armored form and weird shuffling walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
Imagine instead your mother’s delight in you as a baby, in all your sweet-smelling, roly-poly nudeness.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
People were bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness — such clips have drawn in millions of viewers.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
All of them opted for the adorably roly-poly breed of French bulldog.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Explore a new deep-sea exhibit Giant isopods scurry like roly-poly bugs in a touch tank.
—John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
The damp, gray roly-poly creature is a bonafide celebrity.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Understanding Armadillos Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo looks like, with its roly-poly armored form and weird shuffling walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Roly-poly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roly-poly. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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