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
Stability: Does the foot plant feel secure, or do my ankles feel roly-poly?
—
Maggie Slepian, Outside, 26 Jan. 2026
The lounge’s furniture had been softened with curvy sofas and roly-poly club chairs, but that sensation of floating above the city felt familiar.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025
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
Maggie Slepian, Outside, 26 Jan. 2026
The lounge’s furniture had been softened with curvy sofas and roly-poly club chairs, but that sensation of floating above the city felt familiar.
—Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roly-poly
Adjective
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It’s packed with maracujá oil and other nourishing ingredients to condition and plump, all while delivering high-shine, hydrating color that actually stays put.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
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Beds are plump, bathtubs are deep and all are designed to optimize the island’s brilliant natural light.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sustainable fat loss usually occurs at a rate of about 1 to 2 pounds per week.—
Fred Sassani,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
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Working one at a time, gently crack all over, then peel, starting from fat end with air pocket; discard shells.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The 27-mile round-trip climb from Idaho Springs to the peak of the fourteener formerly known as Mount Evans dates back to 1962.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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The script unfortunately goes round and round in circles with the characters constantly repeating and contradicting themselves.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Roly-poly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roly-poly. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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