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

Interiors are simple—there’s just a huge double bed, a daybed, and plump floor cushions.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Readers rave about the flavorful combination of fresh apples, plump, juicy raisins, and cinnamon.

— Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of plump

Adjective

The Spurs believe the most imposing version of their defensive cornerstone has yet to arrive.

— Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of imposing

Adjective

When carb intake falls sharply, the liver turns fat into ketones, an alternative fuel for the brain and other tissues that may cause less metabolic stress.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
While typically flushed out within a day, a small amount can build up in fat tissue with daily exposure.

— Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of fat

Adjective

Al Sharpton Al Sharpton is a minister, activist, and one of the nation’s most distinguished leaders in the fight against injustice.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Brown and Martin have also each earned the IBMA’s distinguished achievement award.

— Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of distinguished

Adjective

Atlanta won 46 games a year ago and then took two more in a first-round, best-of-7 series against the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a sphere is a solid figure that is completely round, with every point on its surface an equal distance from the center.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026