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
Still — the slim build, though it’s now accented with a slight paunch.
—
Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
And after conferring with Haynes, Melton decided to gain 40 pounds for the role, smoothing out his sharp jawline and adding a suburban-dad paunch.
—Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2023
My bullet had hit behind the shoulder and exited the paunch.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 7 Sep. 2023
He’s played by Slattery’s Mad Men compatriot Jon Hamm with a bit of a scruff, a bit of a paunch, and a touch of melancholy.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for paunch
Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
And after conferring with Haynes, Melton decided to gain 40 pounds for the role, smoothing out his sharp jawline and adding a suburban-dad paunch.
—Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2023
My bullet had hit behind the shoulder and exited the paunch.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 7 Sep. 2023
He’s played by Slattery’s Mad Men compatriot Jon Hamm with a bit of a scruff, a bit of a paunch, and a touch of melancholy.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for paunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunch
Noun
-
Where the opportunities lie The front and the belly of the curve remain the most attractive, said Rieder, who is also the portfolio manager of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF (BINC) .—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
30 June 2025
-
This condition causes fat to build up around the belly and upper back.—
Stella Bard,
Health,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
Cancer, intestinal infections, and stomach ulcers can also cause sticky poop.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
21 June 2025
-
But in case an adventurous dish doesn’t sit well with you, Fischer suggests keeping Pepto Bismol or another stomach aid at the ready to provide some relief.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 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 4 Jul. 2025.
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