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
Or book an unforgettable helicopter tour to the remote sands of Nova Scotia’s Sable Island National Park Reserve, known for having the world’s largest breeding colony of gray seals and more than 500 stocky wild horses.
—
Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The stocky mammal has short legs, thick fur and large ears, according to Discover Wildlife.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Despite his short and stocky appearance, garnering comparisons to a fire plug, La Guardia was loud and brash.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
First, despite being short, Rossi is built muscular and stocky.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The stocky mammal has short legs, thick fur and large ears, according to Discover Wildlife.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Despite his short and stocky appearance, garnering comparisons to a fire plug, La Guardia was loud and brash.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
First, despite being short, Rossi is built muscular and stocky.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stocky
Adjective
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The stout bull-white form of São João Batista church, the second oldest in Brazil, overlooks the rolling Atlantic.—
Stephanie Rafanelli,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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His responsibilities — stout defense, ball security — in Cronin’s offense became clearer.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Limiting Saturn enters your 2nd House of Resources and Self-Worth, encouraging careful budgets and sturdy values.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
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Look for strong sturdy leaves that have a nice shape and that are rooted well in the soil.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 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
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Who hasn’t wistfully bought a package of plump grape tomatoes in the dead of winter, fully aware that their flavor will likely be muted, if present at all?—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
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These showed no signs of mold or spoilage after a week, and most of the grapes on the bunch remained plump and juicy.—
Alma Avalle,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Feb. 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
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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
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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
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Even though thickset Mandarin characters on every wall extolled the virtues of the Chinese Dream, Xi Jinping's campaign to rejuvenate Chinese nationalism, the town had a frontier feel, as if Beijing's hawkeyed gaze hadn't yet crept over the moonscape mountains.—
Chris Schalkx,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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One such pet, Lainey, a husky shepherd, was found after going missing in Arizona with the help of a neighbor's Ring camera.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Stocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stocky. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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