as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
the stocky boxer's strength and speed more than make up for his opponent's longer reach
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stocky
First, despite being short, Rossi is built muscular and stocky.
—
Harman Dayal, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
At 5-foot-7-inches, Jackson has a stocky build and robotic stare.
—Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
Authorities described the suspect as a man with a stocky build at roughly 5 feet, 8 inches tall.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2025
The unknown suspect, described by the FBI as about 5-foot-8-inches tall with a stocky build, has not been found, and an intensive search remains underway.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Harman Dayal, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
At 5-foot-7-inches, Jackson has a stocky build and robotic stare.
—Sarah Jane Tribble, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
Authorities described the suspect as a man with a stocky build at roughly 5 feet, 8 inches tall.
—Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 17 Dec. 2025
The unknown suspect, described by the FBI as about 5-foot-8-inches tall with a stocky build, has not been found, and an intensive search remains underway.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stocky
Adjective
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However, the Bucks fired him, as the team’s stout defense collapsed (no duh) with Holiday gone.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Wolverines defense has been stout all over the field with an anchor between the posts in junior Jackson Friedman.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Pam was originally [written as] a heavyset girl, so all the jokes on my audition were fat jokes.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
2 Jan. 2026
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Behind the screen of a laptop was a heavyset man, sitting as still as an oracle.—
Kanak Kapur,
New Yorker,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Your skin becomes more sensitive and dry with age, according to our experts, and elastin and collagen — proteins that keep the skin firm and plump — are underproduced.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
24 Jan. 2026
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Aside from her flawless complexion, Peltz Beckham is known for her pout, and several StyleCaster editors wanted to know what her secret is to those iconic plump lips.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Cushions on all sides dial up the comfort factor, and the short, stubby legs keep things grounded in more ways than one.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
22 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a real love-is-dead moment when Yas spots Cordelia, who was just rhapsodizing about the purity of her romance with a younger man, literally on her knees before a stubby, old rich guy.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
As the Presidential election approached, Kabila was increasingly unpopular, and a viable opponent was found: Félix Tshisekedi, a thickset, pugnacious man who was the son of a prominent opposition leader.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
-
The passenger door opened and a thickset man with a short beard and mustache got out.—
Jamie Quatro,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
Adjective
-
The team can help plan reindeer and husky rides, reindeer farm visits, snowmobiles tours across the area’s fells and taiga forests, or Aurora-chasing tours, guided by local experts.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
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Something had pulled it out of the tree, breaking off the husky limb on which it was tied.—
William J. McRae,
Outdoor Life,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stocky. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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