as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
has the heavyset build of a weight lifter
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Recent Examples of heavyset
The girl described the suspect as a male, approximately 6 feet tall, heavyset, with dark tan skin and dark brown, medium-length hair extending to his ears, visible beneath a hooded sweatshirt.
—
Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The photos showed several heavyset Guardsmen in military fatigues carrying rifles and duffle bags, drawing online derision for their overweight appearance.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2025
Andre was shorter and heavyset, with a long beard and pugnacious face.
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
For those of us who are still tall (but not NBA tall) and broad or heavyset, the E-Win Flash XL should do the the trick nicely.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavyset
Harry Harris, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The photos showed several heavyset Guardsmen in military fatigues carrying rifles and duffle bags, drawing online derision for their overweight appearance.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2025
Andre was shorter and heavyset, with a long beard and pugnacious face.
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
For those of us who are still tall (but not NBA tall) and broad or heavyset, the E-Win Flash XL should do the the trick nicely.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavyset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavyset
Adjective
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The short and stout table lamp is positively good enough to eat.—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
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At just under 34 inches tall, this stout king can be freestanding but also fits neatly under counters, which are typically 35 to 40 inches high.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
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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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
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As the Presidential election approached, Kabila was increasingly unpopular, and a viable opponent was found: Félix Tshisekedi, a thickset, pugnacious man who was the son of a prominent opposition leader.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
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Even though thickset Mandarin characters on every wall extolled the virtues of the Chinese Dream, Xi Jinping's campaign to rejuvenate Chinese nationalism, the town had a frontier feel, as if Beijing's hawkeyed gaze hadn't yet crept over the moonscape mountains.—
Chris Schalkx,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The 5-year-old husky mix is a regular at Spot's Place in Regina, Saskatchewan, usually attending Monday through Friday.—
Kendall Malinchock,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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In juvenile court Monday, as the teenager with a husky build and beard sat at the defendant’s table, Judge Christopher Van Meir ruled that the teen would remain in custody at least until the next court hearing, scheduled for April 27.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavyset. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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