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
-
The centerpiece, adorned with plump peaches and a full moon, blends an American style of clay-throwing with carving techniques Saw learned in Jingdezhen.—
Abbey Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Vitamin E and sunflower seed oil buff out uneven texture and plump fine lines.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sometimes, depending upon a patient’s anatomy, fat in the surrounding area will be removed to enhance the result, helping to alleviate heaviness and hooding of the eyes.—
Taryn Brooke,
Allure,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This Lincoln Park restaurant’s OBH burger comes with a side of beef fat wedge fries.—
Kayla Samoy,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An inquisition of potbellied priests stood at the side of the road.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Early on, Don Cheadle has a droll cameo as a potbellied motivational speaker with long dreds who’s really a pyramid-scam hustler, and the point is: This is what the money culture has come to — scams for suckers.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paunchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunchy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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