BURLY Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

burly

adjective

ˈbər-lē

Definition of burly

as in athletic

strongly and heavily built a burly delivery man brought the furniture

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of burly Madden was the burly, garrulous head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s, leading the team to many championship games and its first Super Bowl victory. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 Though his onscreen appearances are brief, Momoa’s face looks fierce superimposed over a burly green body with pointed fangs and sharp claws. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 July 2026 My new friend is a mountain of a man — over 6-foot-6 and burly. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 29 July 2026 The boy was burly and had a remarkable strength and energy that stayed throughout his life, only faltering in the very last throes of death. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for burly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burly

Adjective

Palisades High athletic director Rocky Montz announced Thursday afternoon that the Dolphins have forfeited their nonleague football game at San Pedro on Friday night because of an illness outbreak.

— Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
If the school's proposal is approved and passes through the city's protocols, school officials said the athletic field and neighborhood lights could go in by summer 2027 and new building renovations would begin by 2028.

— Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of athletic

Adjective

Maybe my argument was so strong, the AI would realize that its tech overlords were using this insanely powerful technology not to solve hunger or climate change, but to make reading less essential.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
This stone is part of a larger labyrinth that eventually reaches an ocean in a system of deep, powerful interdependence.

— Supriya Lopez Pillai, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of powerful

Adjective

Tyler, after a brief recovery period, returned to the recording studio with a huskier, edgier voice.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
The extravagant, hi-NRG single showcased the breadth of Tyler’s husky grandeur, which proved a perfect fit for Giorgio Moroder.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026

Definition of husky

Adjective

Parks and Tamburello openly flirted on their season of The Traitors, with the beefy Boston native and Southern belle often pairing up during the reality competition’s challenges.

— Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2026
Both the Grand Canyon and ML-T previously traded out the original 2021 floating auxiliary front roof lights for a beefier front light bar during a 2024 refresh.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of beefy

Adjective

Although the Nordics fell out of love with the south of Sweden when the Med started attracting the rich and famous in the 1970s, a small but mighty renaissance is taking place on the Swedish countryside and shores.

— Michelle Tchea, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026
Sunday, the Carolina Panthers gave up a franchise-most 59 points against the Chicago Bears — a result that surprised most of the NFL given the Panthers’ mighty investment on that side of the ball this offseason.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of mighty

Adjective

As a neo-New Wave guy with a heartland jones and drama-king chops, Flowers isn’t bad cosplaying his heroes, even if his brawny rock-opera vocal approach is a bit short on the conversational warmth that makes for truly memorable country singing.

— Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Starship will be key to building and maintaining this constellation, which will require many launches of the brawny, fully reusable rocket.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of brawny

Adjective

The hulking, five-story border checkpoint facility, which loomed over the surrounding area in the grand style of Chinese government facilities, has been obliterated.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
The ballroom project, a hulking party venue that overshadows the White House’s main building and its modest neoclassical design, could be another.

— Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of hulking

Adjective

The Evans defense, which has been stout all season, forced a change of possession on five different Winter Park fourth-down plays inside the 20, as the Wildcats struggled in the red zone.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Webb figures he's got the best of both worlds, having his play-calling mentor by his side and squaring off against defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Denver's stout defense all summer.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of stout

Browse Nearby Words

burliness

burly

burn

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“Burly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burly. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of burly

adjective

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