1
as in plump
having an excess of body fat
a rotund little man who, predictably, was asked to play Santa every year
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2
as in round
marked by conspicuously full and rich sounds or tones
the actor's distinct baritone and his clear and rotund elocution are especially effective in dramatic readings
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Recent Examples of rotund
The Moomins, created by Finnish artist and writer Tove Jansson during WWII, are gentle, rotund trolls who live in Moominvalley, a magical place where adventures are always waiting around the corner and the values of friendship, bravery and respect are ever-present.
—
Carole Horst, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Never a perfect circle, but dependably rotund, the doughnuts are large enough to tear at greedily and still last the entire drive home.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
The toy, named Psyduck—intended for humans—is a rotund duck-like creature prone to splitting headaches.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2023
Meet the rotund rascal Sir John Falstaff and the wise wives of Windsor in one of Shakespeare’s most raucous comedies.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 1 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for rotund
Carole Horst, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Never a perfect circle, but dependably rotund, the doughnuts are large enough to tear at greedily and still last the entire drive home.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
The toy, named Psyduck—intended for humans—is a rotund duck-like creature prone to splitting headaches.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2023
Meet the rotund rascal Sir John Falstaff and the wise wives of Windsor in one of Shakespeare’s most raucous comedies.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 1 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for rotund
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rotund
Adjective
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Each winter, a selection of international artisans have free reign to carve their designs into ephemeral Art Suites, whose elaborate beds—topped with plump mattresses, reindeer hides, and sleeping bags—are truly beyond imagination.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
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These varieties produce juicy, plump strawberries, which are perfect for a summer harvest.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The man at the gun shop looked at Martinez, a small woman with round eyes and rosy cheeks, and recommended the pistol, which fit nicely in her hands.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
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The venue is scheduled to hold seven matches during the World Cup, including a round-of-32 game and a quarterfinal.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Next Tuesday, Simpson is scheduled to have a mastectomy on the side with three tumors and a lump removal on the other, with reconstructive surgery to move fat and an artery from her abdomen to replace the removed breast.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
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Tom couldn’t get the lean down but ate a few bites of fat.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Not exactly a ringing endorsement.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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At noon each day, a cannon placed on the Janiculum Hill fires a blank shot in unison with the ringing bells of Rome’s churches.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Located in the upscale Takanawa development, the sleek JW Marriott Tokyo fits right into Tokyo’s vibrant skyline, where 200 guest rooms and suites boast floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Tokyo Bay and Shinagawa City.—
Lois Alter Mark,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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This oversized outdoor wreath features chrysanthemums and hydrangeas crafted from fade-resistant fabric designed to stay fresh and vibrant without the upkeep.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Authoritative, sonorous and compelling, his is the voice that persuaded millions that the Martians had landed in Grover’s Mills, New Jersey in The War of the Worlds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
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The country twang of her Nashville origins has been replaced with sonorous synths, and in the case of Showgirl, a throwback to the retro electric guitar sound of her bestselling 2014 album 1989.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To overcome this challenge, the team combined red and blue laser beams and passed them through a specialized chamber called an anti-resonant hollow core fiber.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
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The cello carried a low, resonant weight, a sound that seemed capable of lifting the room off the ground if allowed.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Officers were tasked with combating what officials said was a rise in thefts, people spending money obtained by defrauding the state’s unemployment system and quality of life issues like loud music and the smell of marijuana drifting into stores, according to a 2021 Times investigation.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Buzzer-beaters have begun, the March Madness buzz keeps getting louder, and debates already rage about topics ranging from the top seeds to the NCAA Tournament bubble.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rotund.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rotund. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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