as in plump
having a large protruding abdomen
an old, potbellied cat that now needs a ramp just to get on the sofa
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of potbellied
The Delaware Department of Agriculture is encouraging people who own potbellied pigs as pets to spay or neuter them to prevent unintended litters.
—
Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
Outside this church upon a mosque upon a church, a potbellied Arab sat on the steps, conspicuously reciting his Quran.
—Aatish Taseer Richard Mosse, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2022
Other attractions include a catch-and-release fishing pond, winding mazes, and a petting zoo featuring potbellied pigs Big Mama and Elmer.
—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022
Daybell was a jowly, potbellied man with an awkward, quiet demeanor, who gave off the air of a person who was deeply unsure of himself.
—Leah Sottile, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for potbellied
Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
Outside this church upon a mosque upon a church, a potbellied Arab sat on the steps, conspicuously reciting his Quran.
—Aatish Taseer Richard Mosse, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2022
Other attractions include a catch-and-release fishing pond, winding mazes, and a petting zoo featuring potbellied pigs Big Mama and Elmer.
—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022
Daybell was a jowly, potbellied man with an awkward, quiet demeanor, who gave off the air of a person who was deeply unsure of himself.
—Leah Sottile, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2022
See All Example Sentences for potbellied
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potbellied
Adjective
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If the stem is still green after the bloom, check it for any unused nodes (green and plump bumps) on the flower spikes.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
20 Jan. 2026
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The dining scene, rooted in the cold waters surrounding the island — think colossal king crabs and plump scallops — has expanded as well.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In Arthur Penn’s 1975 neo-noir Night Moves, Griffith is Delly Grastner, a 16-year-old runaway with a little girl’s voice and a grown woman’s body—on full display in an underwater nude scene—intent on seducing Gene Hackman, 43 and paunchy.—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
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There isn’t much room in this palette for public pools or paunchy, suburban retirees.—
Sean Williams,
Outside,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As for tools, Byatt employs a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, some plastic wrap to control splashing once the buttermilk separates from the fat solids, and a bowl of ice water to help rinse out the last remaining buttermilk.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
22 Jan. 2026
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But eat too much and that excess protein gets converted into and stored as fat.—
Tania Fabo,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Potbellied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potbellied. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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