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 Malik closed out the fundraiser with a stump speech calling for taxing the rich, Johnson drove off in a black Porsche Cayenne, and a plump rat scurried by the venue’s entrance.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 May 2026
-
Fresh blueberries should be plump and firm to the touch.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Since Jordan’s departure in 1998, the Bulls haven’t come remotely close to that kind of success, and performing cultural bypass surgery on the current roster without acquiring a superstar only will make Graham’s task more imposing.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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One of the people listening was an imposing but soft-spoken guy dressed in black, with a baseball cap nearly covering his eyes.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In certain people, the submandibular glands—as well as the adjacent fat pockets and digastric muscles (which aid in swallowing, chewing, and speech)—can give a look of fullness, blunting the border between the face and neck.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
14 May 2026
-
Figueira starts by grilling the beef over charcoal and wood until the fat cap renders into something approaching gold.—
Heide Brandes,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Over time, his work has earned distinguished recognitions from professional organizations and legal associations.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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As the years pass, the distinguished plant bears witness to the private lives of those who seek shade under its boundless branches.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Neapolitan pizza is characterized by a round, soft dough with a very thin center and a high, airy crust spotted with bits of char.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2026
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The teaser doesn’t give away much of the plot, but the best part is Pugh standing in a funeral wearing all-black furs and round black sunglasses.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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