as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
a short, thickset bulldog
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Recent Examples of thickset
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
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
The passenger door opened and a thickset man with a short beard and mustache got out.
—Jamie Quatro, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
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
And, with two big interior pockets, protective metal feet, and thickset handles, your luggage can accommodate everything this lifestyle entails.
—Irene Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2023
The thickset prison administrator, known as Bawar to his friends, had been keenly aware that the prison was vulnerable to assault.
—Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2022
The hotel's two restaurants, an offshoot of the Beefbar, and Biancaneve, are awash with more banquettes upholstered in colorful cozy fabrics arranged around thickset wood tables, a nod to the hotel's Alpine location.
—Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022
Julia's grandmother Zora was short and thickset and typical of the women of her generation in that her days consisted of brief breaks between cooking and cleaning—if not grocery shopping or preparing a meal, she could be found scrubbing the Khrushchyovka apartment with great fa- naticism.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 4 May 2021
Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
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
The passenger door opened and a thickset man with a short beard and mustache got out.
—Jamie Quatro, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
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
And, with two big interior pockets, protective metal feet, and thickset handles, your luggage can accommodate everything this lifestyle entails.
—Irene Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2023
The thickset prison administrator, known as Bawar to his friends, had been keenly aware that the prison was vulnerable to assault.
—Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2022
The hotel's two restaurants, an offshoot of the Beefbar, and Biancaneve, are awash with more banquettes upholstered in colorful cozy fabrics arranged around thickset wood tables, a nod to the hotel's Alpine location.
—Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022
Julia's grandmother Zora was short and thickset and typical of the women of her generation in that her days consisted of brief breaks between cooking and cleaning—if not grocery shopping or preparing a meal, she could be found scrubbing the Khrushchyovka apartment with great fa- naticism.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 4 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thickset
Adjective
-
The short and stout table lamp is positively good enough to eat.—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
At just under 34 inches tall, this stout king can be freestanding but also fits neatly under counters, which are typically 35 to 40 inches high.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That rep, and dozens of others like it, formed the foundation for the Broncos’ interest in the stocky Coleman — their chosen running back among a long list available on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Platform legs give this modern hutch a lighter presence than some of the stocky silhouettes on this list while also providing possibilities for under storage.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Packed with multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, this milky lotion promises plump, glassy skin.—
Anita Bhagwandas,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Niacinamide helps brighten and even things out, while hyaluronic acid floods skin with hydration for a plump, fresh look.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The team-captain label and All-American honors help, but the real selling points are Schrauth’s sturdy frame, strong hands and a physical style that works in tight quarters.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In an untitled work from 1995, a cluster of sturdy wagons sits at the edge of a frozen lake, a site where her family of peripatetic horse traders often camped.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Across the street, through a thick tangle of forest, the Khodymchuks’ building stood tall and gray in the snow.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Not only does the material ensure comfort and support, but the unique design, with thick straps that curve to the exact shape of my arches and a cupped heel, creates a glove-like fit that hugs my feet.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Pam was originally [written as] a heavyset girl, so all the jokes on my audition were fat jokes.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thickset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thickset. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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