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

Following the coach’s firing in July 2023, more than 260 Northwestern faculty members signed a petition calling for the stadium plans to be halted until at least athletic department’s problems could be sorted out.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Lately, they’re increasingly placed asymmetrically, a detail borrowed from athletic shoes that’s now trickling down to streetwear.

— Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of athletic

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

More complex conversations and image edits may use the cloud for beefier AI, but the amount that happens right on the device makes the Mac Studio smarter and more private than ever.

— Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of beefy

Adjective

A day will surely dawn when those who sought refuge in the long shadow of American bullying—believing that mimicking the language of the mighty could shield them from the claws of power—will stand bare before the truth.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
The 2026 Honda Passport stands out because of its mighty V6 engine, spacious cabin and cargo area and rugged styling.

— Charles Singh, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of mighty

Adjective

Upon entering the arena, the steel at the lower levels reveals itself as quite brawny.

— Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
His main problem in winning Katrina is the presence of rivals for her hand, especially the brawny, Herculean Brom Van Brunt, known as Brom Bones.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 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

Denver is a tough place to play, and the Broncos defense is stout.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Despite the offensive struggles, a stout defense kept the Panthers within striking distance, allowing FAU (2-1) to score only 10 points off those three turnovers.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 20 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of burly

adjective

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