stocky

adjective

ˈstä-kē 

stockier; stockiest

: compact, sturdy, and relatively thick in build

stockily

ˈstä-kə-lē 

adverb

stockiness

ˈstä-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of stocky

• stout
• sturdy
• heavyset
• plump
• stubby
• thickset
• husky

Examples of stocky in a Sentence

That outfit makes you look stocky.

the stocky boxer's strength and speed more than make up for his opponent's longer reach

Recent Examples on the Web

Jos Weyers, a stocky man with glasses who is one of the group’s senior members, was dressed in all black. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Introduced in the 1970s to maintain the open grassy balds, these stocky, sure-footed ponies have become beloved icons. — Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

The suspect is described as a White man in his 30s about 6 feet tall with a stocky build. — Juli McDonald, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Unlike paper wasps, yellow jackets have a shorter, stockier body with a less pronounced narrow waist. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stocky

• blocky
• chalky
• cocky
• gawky
• hockey
• jockey
• khaki
• machi
• maki
• rocky
• talkie
• walkie

Kids Definition

stocky

adjective

ˈstäk-ē 

stockier; stockiest

: compact, sturdy, and quite thick in build : thickset

stockily

ˈstäk-ə-lē 

adverb

stockiness

-ē-nəs 

noun