as in belly
an enlarged or bulging abdomen
Santa is depicted as a white-bearded man with a big paunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paunch
That’s because Kelly is as phony as her foamy pregnant paunch, having built a career on a mountain of lies similar in scale to ad man Draper’s.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 July 2024
My husband, who has a noticeable paunch, approached her next, asking her to let him by.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
Still — the slim build, though it’s now accented with a slight paunch.
—Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
My bullet had hit behind the shoulder and exited the paunch.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 7 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for paunch
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 July 2024
My husband, who has a noticeable paunch, approached her next, asking her to let him by.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
Still — the slim build, though it’s now accented with a slight paunch.
—Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
My bullet had hit behind the shoulder and exited the paunch.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 7 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for paunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunch
Noun
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That roster includes dishes like foie gras truffle with charred onion jam and a house croissant; a wild boar belly and antelope with pistachio, fermented harissa, and yogurt; and an Asian pear sorbet with aloe sabayon and ginger tapioca.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
12 Sep. 2025
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So, to reduce inflammation, learn to relax, improve sleep hygiene, floss your teeth regularly, and reduce belly fat.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The protective father also held his hands back, guarding his son while placing the back of his head on Jack’s stomach.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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Pineapple sensitivities may cause mild symptoms, such as nausea and upset stomach, while allergies may cause skin rashes and a swollen tongue or lips.—
Lauren O'Connor,
Health,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This digestive machinery takes up a lot of room, giving the animals a potbelly.—
Alex Fox,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 June 2025
-
An equipment manager had such a potbelly that his pants kind of got lost under the belly.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunch. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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