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 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 Morocco’s burly defender Issa Diop was nearly on top of him, but Mbappé didn’t give him time to challenge. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026 Waving and smiling, Aveiro, accompanied by a burly gentleman, takes a seat at a table bedecked with a bouquet of roses, ready to tuck into some cuisine from her native country. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 There was the 29-oz (822-g) Hyperlite Crosspeak 1, but beyond that, the heavy, burly expedition tents have stolen the spotlight. — New Atlas, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for burly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burly

Adjective

This was some 50 pallets containing more than 150,000 pieces of athletic gear – 6,500 pairs of shoes alone – all of which had to be sorted by team and distributed across campus in less than a month.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
The athletic department added a fifth water station on Saturday to give fans more options.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of athletic

Adjective

So the Armani Beauty team took the time to build a present, long-lasting, powerful scent.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2026
This formula is light as a feather and hydrating, sort of like a hyaluronic acid serum that’s powerful yet quick to sink into the skin.

— Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 6 Aug. 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

My love is unconditional and nothing will separate me from your cheesy beefy burrito and avocado chicken stacker.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
This version ranks among Orange County’s best, delivering a satisfying snap and enough beefy richness without turning into mush.

— Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 30 July 2026

Definition of beefy

Adjective

As for these spices’ association with the mighty pumpkin, several cookbooks from the 17th and 18th centuries feature pumpkin pie recipes that call for such flavorings.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
But a recent report on used‑car data from iSeeCars suggests that even the mighty 911 may not be immune to a cooling market.

— Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of mighty

Adjective

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
The two athletic conferences standing have schools in 26 states, a brawny bipartisan geographic and political footprint.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of brawny

Adjective

While most of the onigiri in Japanese convenience stores and markets is designed for snacking, Choe’s onigiri are hulking, chunky rounded triangles of rice and filling that each weigh at least half a pound.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
For many travelers, King Salmon serves as the home base for exploring Katmai National Park and Preserve, where hulking brown bears congregate along the Brooks River each summer to feast as sockeye salmon surge upstream to spawn.

— Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of hulking

Adjective

But in the heat of the moment during practices, as Mensah leads a stout Hurricanes offense against an equally stout defensive backs group, anything is fair game.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
Also topping the list are companies with stout vertical integrations and ones focused on contract manufacturing.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 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 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of burly

adjective

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