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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The rooms Supremely comfy, with no gimmicky surprises — just proper, old-school amenities, the plumpest beds and (16 types of) pillows, and gleaming bathrooms decked in mottled marble.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
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Start with plump rhizomes, sprout them in warmth and humidity, then plant in well-draining soil.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 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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The Good Neighbor Old Fashioned ($17) uses tallow from the mothership restaurant’s brisket to fat-wash the bourbon, complemented with hay liqueur and citrusy Licor 43.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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In a 2020 study, participants who followed a ketogenic diet experienced significant reductions in waist and hip circumference and total body fat percentage, without reducing their calorie intake.—
Bret Scher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Potbellied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potbellied. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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