as in plump
having an excess of body fat
a roly-poly baby who grew into a slender child
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Recent Examples of roly-poly
Every few weeks a letter or phone call requesting a conference with Zilpha and Jaron came from Mr. Darwin, the school resource manager, a roly-poly man with a lovely voice.
—
Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
But like a roly-poly, the gömböc is round in places.
—Elise Cutts, Wired News, 10 Aug. 2025
Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo looks like, with its roly-poly armored form and weird shuffling walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Imagine instead your mother’s delight in you as a baby, in all your sweet-smelling, roly-poly nudeness.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
People were bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness — such clips have drawn in millions of viewers.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
But like a roly-poly, the gömböc is round in places.
—Elise Cutts, Wired News, 10 Aug. 2025
Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo looks like, with its roly-poly armored form and weird shuffling walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Imagine instead your mother’s delight in you as a baby, in all your sweet-smelling, roly-poly nudeness.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 June 2025
People were bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness — such clips have drawn in millions of viewers.
—Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roly-poly
Adjective
-
All of this bounty was contained in a tortilla that is pleasingly plump without being structurally compromised.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
-
There were black burlat cherries, plump apricots, a basket of fragrant strawberries.—
Danielle Postel-Vinay,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
McRib nutritional facts Per McDonald's nutritional facts, a McRib has 520 calories, 28 grams of fat, 24 grams of protein and 46 grams of carbs.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Many of those fish were taken in the fall, when mullet were fat with roe.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The matriarch of the legendary football family and mother of Jason Kelce and younger brother Chiefs tight end, and Swift fiancé Travis Kelce, looks menacingly at the camera as her profile is reflected in a round mirror in the background.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
11 Nov. 2025
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So, George drove 100 miles round-trip two days in a row just to visit.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Roly-poly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roly-poly. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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