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
While still a vine, the plant is stocky and compact.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
Prior to the arrival of police at the site of the deadly stabbing, a stocky bald man and a thin woman wearing her hair in a ponytail — both described as possibly homeless — were seen leaving the area in separate directions.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
Small and stocky birds perch, hunched over, on the treetops and branches of Lake Okeechobee on the edge of Florida’s swampy Everglades for the better part of winter.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
By contrast, the large but not gigantic great white is fairly stocky.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 July 2025
Prior to the arrival of police at the site of the deadly stabbing, a stocky bald man and a thin woman wearing her hair in a ponytail — both described as possibly homeless — were seen leaving the area in separate directions.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
Small and stocky birds perch, hunched over, on the treetops and branches of Lake Okeechobee on the edge of Florida’s swampy Everglades for the better part of winter.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
By contrast, the large but not gigantic great white is fairly stocky.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stocky
Adjective
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Layne faced a really stout Michigan defense in the season opener and predictably struggled, throwing three interceptions in a 34-17 loss.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Singing onstage at New York’s Beacon Theatre or puttering around her house in Brittany, Birkin appears shorter and stouter, with thin lips and sunspots.—
Anahid Nersessian,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Fall sowing encourages sturdy plants and earlier blooms, which can be quite beneficial in hot Southern climes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
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The sturdy plastic housings resist fading and cracking and are brown in color to blend with most outdoor surfaces.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Sullivans Island Police Chief Glenn Meadows described the suspect as heavyset, in his 40s, balding with a goatee.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
-
The woman described the robbery suspect as a heavyset man with a beard, police said.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The formula gets bonus points for not feeling sticky, not traveling or feathering, and smoothing out lip lines for a plump, pouty effect.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The prickly pear extract soothe irration and the brand’s signature VIP O2 complex evens your skin tone and hydrates without any tightness, leaving your face plump, clean, and ready for anything.—
Tanya Akim,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of the hands were too thick and the fingers were too stubby, and then some were too thin and the fingers were too long.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Butler is a victim of a sinister moral panic, one in which small and jealous spirits tore down the highest targets their stubby little souls could reach.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
The passenger door opened and a thickset man with a short beard and mustache got out.—
Jamie Quatro,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
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There’s a thickset dashboard dotted with prominent air vents and a thick, smooth center section that connects the door panels.—
Andrew Wendler,
Car and Driver,
8 Aug. 2023
Adjective
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The star’s lower, huskier baritone voice has always made an impact in BTS’ music with the star citing the likes of Bing Crosby, Eric Benet and Ruben Studdard as inspirations.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Carpenter is plainly a student of Parton’s, evoking her pinup styling (voluminous hair, big red lips), her persona (sharp with a knowing wink), and her voice, which is rich and husky and accompanied by a country lilt.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stocky. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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