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
But if the murderer were middle-aged and paunchy . . .
—
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
Colin Farrell looks less like himself than ever in The Lobster, a movie in which the attractive leading man is transformed into a schlubby, paunchy character sporting a big mustache and corrective lenses.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
Colin Farrell looks less like himself than ever in The Lobster, a movie in which the attractive leading man is transformed into a schlubby, paunchy character sporting a big mustache and corrective lenses.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunchy
Adjective
-
Each winter, a selection of international artisans have free reign to carve their designs into ephemeral Art Suites, whose elaborate beds—topped with plump mattresses, reindeer hides, and sleeping bags—are truly beyond imagination.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
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These varieties produce juicy, plump strawberries, which are perfect for a summer harvest.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Next Tuesday, Simpson is scheduled to have a mastectomy on the side with three tumors and a lump removal on the other, with reconstructive surgery to move fat and an artery from her abdomen to replace the removed breast.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
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Tom couldn’t get the lean down but ate a few bites of fat.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
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
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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 17 Mar. 2026.
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