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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After the treatment, skin was visibly more plump, smooth, hydrated and radiant.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Its hero ingredients include niacinamide (a.k.a. vitamin B3), known for minimizing pores and reducing fine lines, along with Premium Elastin from France, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid, all of which moisturize and plump skin for a more youthful, glowy appearance.—
Melony Forcier,
People.com,
19 June 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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Before the era of inflation and taxes, stocks were a specialists’ forte of no interest to the broad population getting fat and happy on the bounty of the industrial revolution.—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Estrogen also helps regulate blood sugar by supporting insulin production, improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing fat storage and inflammation.—
Karina Zaiets,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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From September 25-28, the Windy City hosts Chicago Gourmet one of the nation’s most distinguished food festivals.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Developers feed their chatbot models on a torrent of material, much of it scraped from the web — everything from distinguished literary works to random babbling — as well as collections holding millions of books, articles, scientific papers and the like, some of it copyrighted.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Richie’s hairstylist George Curran opted for movement in the form of a bouncy blowout, using a round brush and blow-dryer to create volume and a soft curve.—
Bella Cacciatore,
Glamour,
27 June 2025
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Aside from a round diamond pendant, nothing is more classic—and timeless—than initial necklaces.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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