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 The burly bureaucrat in dark slacks and a navy sweater has a scruffy beard and the frazzled look of an anonymous factotum thrust into the limelight. — Joshua Hunt, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026 Inside a black metal cage at the courtroom’s edge, three men waited silently to face the chief judge, a burly brigadier general in the Lebanese Army. — Euan Ward, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 Amin Abdullah, 51 (San Diego Police Department) Abdullah was known for his burly figure and his warm smile. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 Many tropical harvestman species like those in the study are larger and burlier than their temperate kin, which makes the occasional amphibian feast more feasible. — Jake Buehler, Scientific American, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for burly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burly

Adjective

The most prominent position that UM’s athletic department has filled in the portal has been quarterback, with Cam Ward, Carson Beck and now Darian Mensah signed to big-money deals the past three years.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Even the urologist’s office has athletic jerseys hanging in the treatment room so that men’s masculinity will not be assailed.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 July 2026

Definition of athletic

Adjective

The twist is that she’s already attached to Reynolds (Ben Foster), who looks like a dweeb — but is, in fact, an extremely wealthy and powerful drug kingpin.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 July 2026
Ruemmler is the latest prominent figure called before the House Oversight Committee as lawmakers investigate the network of powerful people connected with Epstein.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 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

On top of the appropriately hirsute performer assuming the role of beefy antihero Kratos, the adaptation promises a god-tier ensemble cast, with the likes of Lost’s Sonya Walger and Homeland’s Mandy Patinkin joining the fray.

— Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Bands perform as the peaceful crowd saunters, with the visual entertainment of beefy men cooking barbecue on giant grills.

— Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of beefy

Adjective

Small but mighty, Franklin Regional creates a connected learning journey that supports students from their earliest years through graduation.

— Tiffany Thenor, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
According to the ancient Greeks, a mighty serpent called Ophion incubated an enormous egg that hatched into the universe and all its inhabitants.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

Definition of mighty

Adjective

The comparison suggests Mexican winemaking is a monolith and that its offerings mimic Napa’s brawny fruit-forward wines—two deeply misguided assumptions.

— Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026
Some might make the case that 2005’s brawny alien apocalypse action thriller War of the Worlds fits the bill.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026

Definition of brawny

Adjective

In the first room, a hulking pair of Nazi overboots, used by German infantry to guard against frigid Russian winters during World War II, serves as the centerpiece of a display on the symbolism of footwear.

— Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Haaland — blond and hulking — plays like a true Viking raiding the shores of Yorkshire.

— Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026

Definition of hulking

Adjective

In this tournament, Morocco has tried to develop from the 2022 team, which relied on stout defense, into one that can outplay more teams.

— Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 July 2026
La Albiceleste created more chances but could not get past the viral sensation in net or the stout Cape Verdean defense before the halftime whistle blew.

— Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 July 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 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of burly

adjective

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