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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Its silky texture absorbs effortlessly, leaving the skin feeling plump and protected without any greasy residue.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 May 2025
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It’s powered by ultra-low molecular collagen that penetrates deeply to firm and smooth fine lines, while oligo-hyaluronic acid hydrates better and faster than traditional HA, sinking in deeper and faster, leaving skin plump without heaviness.—
Marie Lodi,
Allure,
2 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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One is for chocolate, ketchup, and mustard; another is for fat and cooking oil; another is for blood, dairy, and ice cream; and another is for coffee, tea, wine, and juice.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
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That’s not fat or muscle loss, but simply water shifting out of your muscles.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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The Fragrance Foundation proudly recognized Leonard for his distinguished accomplishments both as the Hall of Fame Honoree in 1990 and as the inaugural honoree in 2000 for the first ever Circle of Champions.—
Jenny B. Fine,
Footwear News,
17 June 2025
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In 2015, she was selected as a Dole Caregiver Fellow, joining a distinguished multi-year leadership program that builds community and raises national awareness on behalf of military and veteran caregivers.—
Tom Chiodo,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Memphis traded Desmond Bane to Orlando for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first round picks, and one first round pick swap according to Shams Charania.—
Mikai Bruce,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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On top of that, the battery easily goes a week without begging for a charger, and the square AMOLED display is way easier to read mid-run than a round one.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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