stodgy

adjective

ˈstä-jē 

stodgier; stodgiest

1

: extremely old-fashioned (as in opinions, attitudes, etc.) : hidebound

… received a pompously Victorian letter from his stodgy father …

—E. E. S. Montagu

2

a

: drab

b

: dowdy

3

: boring, dull

… out on a peaceful rather stodgy Sunday boat trip …

—Edna Ferber

4

: having a rich filling quality : heavy

stodgy bread

5

: moving in a slow plodding way especially as a result of physical bulkiness

stodgily

ˈstä-jə-lē 

adverb

stodginess

ˈstä-jē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of stodgy

• boring
• slow
• old
• tiring
• stupid
• dull
• weary
• dusty
• wearying
• heavy

Examples of stodgy in a Sentence

the sitcom was offbeat and interesting in its first season, but has since become predictable and stodgy

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump creates fear of a worse outcome (hostile takeover) and the other side (usually stodgy hotel managers) proposes buybacks, joint ventures, special access and the like. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026

Four long years, during which the relationship between the flashy, flamboyant player and the sometimes-stodgy organization that turned him into a Charlotte legend seemed to spoil, turning almost rotten at times. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026

Japan’s old, stodgy government is initially too caught up in bureaucratic red tape and inertia to mount a response. —James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026

The performances have largely been stodgy and ponderous. —The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Rhymes for stodgy

• dodgy
• demagogy
• laryngology
• teleology

Kids Definition

stodgy

adjective

ˈstäj-ē 

stodgier; stodgiest

1

: moving in a slow struggling way especially as a result of physical bulkiness

2

: having no excitement or interest : dull, boring

a stodgy day

3

: very old-fashioned in attitude or point of view

stodgily

ˈstäj-ə-lē 

adverb