PORTLY Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

portly

adjective

ˈpȯrt-lē

Definition of portly

as in plump

having an excess of body fat a portly gentleman who loved to cook for his family and friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of portly The portly, silver-haired son of a Breton fisherman viewed himself as a man with a mission — to keep France French under the banner of the National Front. — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025 Oh, and being a bit on the portly side couldn't hurt one's chance's, either. — Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 22 July 2023 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 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 See All Example Sentences for portly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portly

Adjective

Specs AccordionItemContainerButton Minimalist and cozy are two words that come to mind when describing the Zixuan daybed, which has a clean silhouette but doesn’t feel sterile thanks to its plump pillows.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026
Purchasing Fresh Corn In The Husk To pick out your fresh corn still in the husk, start by giving the ear of corn a gentle squeeze to feel for plump kernels and avoid husks with brown holes, a sign of worms.

— Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of plump

Adjective

When houses squeeze into their lots, vehicles grow more imposing, and storefronts battle for attention, the problem is no longer simply whether something is beautiful or ugly.

— Debbie Millman, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Propaganda posters from the era from both the democratic United States and the Axis powers surround the imposing, heavy-duty boots, covered in animal hair and insulation.

— Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Definition of imposing

Adjective

What caught him by surprise was the conversation around fat-phobia that accompanied the film’s release.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The word ‘gordo’ in Spanish means fat, which brought Barca fans to attempt a funny translation of the England international’s surname from Gordon to Gros.

— Pol Ballús, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of fat

Adjective

Tom Tugendhat is a Conservative member of Parliament in Britain and a distinguished fellow at the Hudson Institute.

— Tom Tugendhat, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2026
The award joins a distinguished roster of BMAC honors celebrating some of the most influential figures and organizations in music and culture.

— Jem Aswad, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of distinguished

Adjective

The North Siders clubbed an all-time team record of nine home runs in a single game, routing their rival Milwaukee Brewers 17-3 at Wrigley Field − and ending August with 62 round-trippers for the month, another team record.

— Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Zheng was the one in tears at the French Open, after losing her first round match to eventual finalist Maja Chwalińska, 6-4, 6-0.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026