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
The thickset Armand Assante was a phlegmatic Odysseus, but Greta Scacchi, as Penelope—who has so little to say in the poem—became the physical embodiment of anger, and Isabella Rossellini was a teasing Athena.
—
David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
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
David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
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
-
But still, 495 pound-feet of torque, that’s stout.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
17 June 2026
-
Use a stout wooden stake and place it in the soil near the center of the pot after filling it with soil.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The adults are about 5 to 10 pounds with stocky, thick bodies, short ears, short legs, and a bushy tail.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
22 June 2026
-
Maisie is about 40 pounds, with a stocky build and a French bulldog face.—
Logan Hall,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
That observation eventually led to the discovery of Pitera, the brand's now-iconic ferment; this sheet mask is absolutely drenched in it to nourish and plump skin with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 June 2026
-
Amazon shoppers say the $22 Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Multi-Balm leaves their skin hydrated and plump.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
-
Serving tray for entertaining $25 to $50 This straightforward serving tray is a reliable standard that’s sturdy and comes in seven colors.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The fire initially grew into a huge inferno, creating a pillar of thick, black smoke that could be seen for miles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
That thick, ugly vein, the shrimp feeling, was gone.—
Sarah Miller,
New Yorker,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
The suspect was heavyset and walked with a unique gait, feet splayed apart, as seen in the surveillance video.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Thickset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thickset. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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