1
as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
dumpy little toddlers growing into lanky children
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dumpy
The dumpy old Abe Stark Sports Center, the ice rink on the boardwalk between 19th and 20th Streets, is getting a major renovation as well.
—
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 24 Sep. 2025
Torry’s candidly dumpy, dingy, dated, wood panel lined courtroom allowed for the placement of contemporary art and the banging of nails into walls which would have been forbidden in one of the ornate ground floor courtrooms.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 24 Sep. 2025
Torry’s candidly dumpy, dingy, dated, wood panel lined courtroom allowed for the placement of contemporary art and the banging of nails into walls which would have been forbidden in one of the ornate ground floor courtrooms.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumpy
Adjective
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At 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, Coleman certainly has the right frame to be stout in pass protection.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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The short and stout table lamp is positively good enough to eat.—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Longtime Oak Lawn Village Board member Timothy Desmond has resigned from his post to enter into a contract with the village through his home building company to restore dilapidated properties, with the goal of putting them back on the tax rolls.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The newborn lived in a dank and dilapidated enclosure alongside seven other lions, including his parents, Kim and Carl, said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane World for Animals Canada, whose organization helped shut down the zoo and rescue the lions.—
Andrea Sachs,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Packed with multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, this milky lotion promises plump, glassy skin.—
Anita Bhagwandas,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
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Niacinamide helps brighten and even things out, while hyaluronic acid floods skin with hydration for a plump, fresh look.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For patients living with rare and neglected diseases, the next breakthrough treatment might already be sitting in a pharmaceutical company’s filing cabinet.—
Annette Bakker,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
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When first performed at L.A. Opera a decade ago, the lavish production, co-produced with English National Opera, helped recover a neglected opera.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This adorable costume looks poised to rule over The Masked Singer stage with a flick of her paw and a wag of her stumpy tail.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Jan. 2026
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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
Adjective
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That rep, and dozens of others like it, formed the foundation for the Broncos’ interest in the stocky Coleman — their chosen running back among a long list available on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Platform legs give this modern hutch a lighter presence than some of the stocky silhouettes on this list while also providing possibilities for under storage.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The 28-meter (92-foot) tall maypole was lifted horizontally on wooden carts and pulled into the village by two sturdy horses from the local beer brewery.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
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These knives also feature a sturdy spine for extra heft and durability.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Alongside Lincoln Park, the small Parque de Mexico has what looks like a stubby Stonehenge of empty plinths.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Short stubby legs and a rounded headboard also amplify the twee appeal of the frame.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumpy. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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