1
as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
dumpy little toddlers growing into lanky children
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
we could only find rooms at a dumpy motel on the outskirts of the city
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dumpy
The Slip concerns sixteen-year-old Nathaniel Rothstein, a dumpy sad sack who, after getting into a fight at school, is sent to live with his uncle in Austin for the summer of 1998.
—
Lucas Schaefer
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
At the start of the production, when Blanche arrives at her sister’s dumpy apartment, a lithe young man (Jabez Sykes) contorts himself in abstract choreography.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
In context, Franklin was critiquing a rather dumpy drawing of an eagle lacking a regal beak by the Society of the Cincinnati, which had adopted the nation’s bird as its symbol.
—Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2024
In fact, it was released during the slightly less dumpy dump month of February — on February 13, 1991, with nationwide sneak previews on February 2, 1991.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Lucas Schaefer
june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025
At the start of the production, when Blanche arrives at her sister’s dumpy apartment, a lithe young man (Jabez Sykes) contorts himself in abstract choreography.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
In context, Franklin was critiquing a rather dumpy drawing of an eagle lacking a regal beak by the Society of the Cincinnati, which had adopted the nation’s bird as its symbol.
—Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2024
In fact, it was released during the slightly less dumpy dump month of February — on February 13, 1991, with nationwide sneak previews on February 2, 1991.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 18 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumpy
Adjective
-
The back end of the bullpen is stout, yet the lineup is dreadfully short.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Collins has been one of the more stout edge defenders in his five years in the league, and the Cowboys could desperately use a savvy veteran run defender to contain the edge.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, charred and dilapidated buildings dot the small city center.—
NPR,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Opening in a dilapidated house in Montana, Ramsay drops us in 'possibility', somewhere anything could happen.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There were black burlat cherries, plump apricots, a basket of fragrant strawberries.—
Danielle Postel-Vinay,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
And this peptide serum delivers, with 10 different peptides (which serve to smooth lines and plump lax skin) housed in yet another copper peptide that delivers them deep into the skin.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Those plans were later abandoned during the pandemic and the house joined Denver’s neglected and derelict building list in 2024.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
8 Oct. 2025
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Same premise as the exterior, but even more important: Don’t buy a car with a neglected interior.—
Jimmy Camp,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
With the costume’s feet at knee-level, an elevated stage (and smoke machine) helped give the appearance that Klum was walking around on E.T.’s characteristically stumpy legs.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN,
1 Nov. 2024
-
The heron turns out to be a stumpy man in a costume.—
Moeko Fujii,
The New Yorker,
2 May 2024
Adjective
-
It was bred from the American pit bull terrier and several bulldog breeds—including the English bulldog and American bulldog—to create a strong, stocky dog with a gentler temperament than traditional pit bulls.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
However, Schwarber looks like a player right out of the old school with his stocky build.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The shearling is still fluffy, and the soles are sturdy.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Gearing is selected via the stubby indicator, with the starter button part of the mechanism.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Each of its sides were home to circular speaker grilles, there was a stubby strap up top and the pointy bit housed a 300-lumen, 720p projector.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumpy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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