1
as in plump
having an excess of body fat
a portly gentleman who loved to cook for his family and friends
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2
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
walked with the portly grace of the grande dame that she was
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portly
In Facebook groups dedicated to Texas barbecue fandom, a recently popular meme shows a portly man dancing on a stripper pole.
—
Elizabeth Findell, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2022
Made of steel, the watch had in its dial a sketch of a portly man, his face framed by round glasses and his broad shoulders clad in a wide-lapelled jacket.
—Sonia Paul, Wired, 1 Mar. 2022
That’s when the portly orphan, who was riding in the van with her, slices off her face to wear it as his own.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2022
One day, Lem held forth about H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to a portly man who turned out to run a publishing house.
—Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for portly
Elizabeth Findell, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2022
Made of steel, the watch had in its dial a sketch of a portly man, his face framed by round glasses and his broad shoulders clad in a wide-lapelled jacket.
—Sonia Paul, Wired, 1 Mar. 2022
That’s when the portly orphan, who was riding in the van with her, slices off her face to wear it as his own.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2022
One day, Lem held forth about H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to a portly man who turned out to run a publishing house.
—Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for portly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portly
Adjective
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Photo: By Stefan Kohli The collection, which includes necklaces, rings, and earrings, takes cues from Parker’s signature ceramics style: oversized plump white studs bear a resemblance to her Puffy Daisy sconce, as does the Puffy Dome cuff bracelet.—
Elise Taylor,
Vogue,
21 May 2025
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Those plump little gems are juicy, sweet, and packed with antioxidants and fiber.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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The far more imposing limit is MLS’s global standing.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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And on the other hand, in a world where most of their top arms remain healthy and effective, the Dodgers could possess one of the most imposing starting pitching staffs in recent memory.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The remote location offers an experience that lets guests disconnect from the hustle of urban life, with adventures like horseback rides, fly fishing, fat biking, and heli-skiing.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2025
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After 72 weeks, two out of three patients on semaglutide had significant improvements in fat accumulation and scarring in the liver.—
Cathy Nelson,
Health,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Lesser known, but no less distinguished, is Cesare Attolini.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
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Father Roman, a distinguished figure with curly black hair and floor-sweeping black cassock, let us in.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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For cash transactions requiring cents, the U.S. will likely follow the lead of Canada — which stopped production of its one-cent piece in 2012 — and make those round to multiples of five.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokić, Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown bid adieu in round two.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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