as in plump
having a large protruding abdomen
not surprisingly, the new Hollywood biopic casts a young, athletically trim actor in the role of the paunchy, balding artist
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Recent Examples of paunchy
The paunchy man’s head was resting on the general’s left leg.
—
Vladimir Sorokin, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
Unlike castrati of the 17th and 18th centuries — always beardless, and typically tall and paunchy — Mariño is short and lithe, and was already sporting a five o’clock shadow on a recent afternoon walk with Leia, his Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
—New York Times, 27 May 2022
Lean and lethally witty Adam Godley plays middle son Mayer, the perfect counterpoint to Beale’s paunchy patriarch.
—Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 14 Oct. 2021
The father, Alexei Shostakov (played by David Harbour), is now a bearded and paunchy Soviet-era superhero known as Red Guardian, the counterpart of Captain America.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
Vladimir Sorokin, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
Unlike castrati of the 17th and 18th centuries — always beardless, and typically tall and paunchy — Mariño is short and lithe, and was already sporting a five o’clock shadow on a recent afternoon walk with Leia, his Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
—New York Times, 27 May 2022
Lean and lethally witty Adam Godley plays middle son Mayer, the perfect counterpoint to Beale’s paunchy patriarch.
—Marilyn Stasio, Variety, 14 Oct. 2021
The father, Alexei Shostakov (played by David Harbour), is now a bearded and paunchy Soviet-era superhero known as Red Guardian, the counterpart of Captain America.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunchy
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
-
Milk Powder Like regular milk, non-fat milk powder can add more protein to your morning oatmeal, Johnson said.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
-
You were allowed to call people fat.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The farm is home to goats, Holstein cows, potbellied and kune kune pigs, donkeys, sheep, rabbits, llamas, alpacas, guinea fowl, guinea pigs, geese, chickens, a Shetland pony, and a Shire horse.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
That’s not to say that the potbellied courthouse stooges of Norfolk County can’t rig the case.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paunchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunchy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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