as in plump
having a large protruding abdomen
an old, potbellied cat that now needs a ramp just to get on the sofa
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 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
-
Healthy roots are plump and silvery, white, or green in color.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Ten years and innumerable pounds of corn later, Laws Whiskey House still uses the plump and sweet grain from Burlington.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Harbor's enjoyably over-the-top Red Guardian continues to be a paunchy steal-stealer, Pullman scores a nice MCU debut as a complex mystery man, and Louis-Dreyfus reigns as a deliciously snarky antagonist.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
-
From the faded velvet booths, Instagram-happy tourists sidle up against paunchy men wearing trousers the same hue as their salmon terrine.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Beyond that point, research suggests, any extra calories are stored as fat.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Federal health officials urged Americans to eat less fat.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potbellied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potbellied. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share