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
The stocky little elephant, not far from Rome’s Pantheon, is a frequent stop for tourists.
—
ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Chef Neel Kajale of Adda prefers a short and stocky German-style chef’s knife.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Feb. 2026
While the Heat over the years have succeeded with smaller guards, the majority of success stories with those of diminutive stature are those with stockier builds, such as Tim Hardaway, Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry or even current bulldog Davion Mitchell.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
The Sturdy Seat The Chisel Lounge Chair by HAY is a delightfully stocky option.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stocky
ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Chef Neel Kajale of Adda prefers a short and stocky German-style chef’s knife.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Feb. 2026
While the Heat over the years have succeeded with smaller guards, the majority of success stories with those of diminutive stature are those with stockier builds, such as Tim Hardaway, Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry or even current bulldog Davion Mitchell.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
The Sturdy Seat The Chisel Lounge Chair by HAY is a delightfully stocky option.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stocky
Adjective
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But considering Fred Hoiberg’s team didn’t have a single double-digit loss before this week, and its stout no-middle defense is still top-10 nationally, there are still plenty of reasons for optimism.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Aztecs are stout as ever defensively under coach Brian Dutcher but rank 108th nationally in offensive efficiency, according to the Pomeroy ratings, which measure points-per-possession adjusted for opponents.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
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Choose varieties that produce long, sturdy stems and blooms.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Born into a working-class family, Golubski was a heavyset man who had considered becoming a priest before entering the police force.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
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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
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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Alvarezsaurs were predominantly small, with stubby but powerful forelimbs, long and gracile hindlimbs and lightly built skulls.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
26 Feb. 2026
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For a moment, my stubby, bare brown fingers hover over my keyboard, the speed-typing test on my screen counting the clock down to zero.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
2 Feb. 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 11 Mar. 2026.
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