burly

1 of 2

adjective

bur·​ly ˈbər-lē How to pronounce burly (audio)
burlier; burliest
Synonyms of burly
: strongly and heavily built : husky
a burly man
burlily
ˈbər-lə-lē How to pronounce burly (audio)
adverb
burliness
ˈbər-lē-nəs How to pronounce burly (audio)
noun

burliness

2 of 2

noun

bur·​li·​ness ˈbər-lē-nəs How to pronounce burliness (audio)
plural -es
: the quality or state of being burly

Synonyms of burly

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Adjective

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Examples of burly in a Sentence

Adjective a burly delivery man brought the furniture
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Waving and smiling, Aveiro, accompanied by a burly gentleman, takes a seat at a table bedecked with a bouquet of roses, ready to tuck into some cuisine from her native country. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Accompanied by two burly law enforcement officers and with a military-style helicopter in the background, Uthmeier declared this was the perfect spot for a detention center. — Jim Defede, CBS News, 28 June 2026 There was the 29-oz (822-g) Hyperlite Crosspeak 1, but beyond that, the heavy, burly expedition tents have stolen the spotlight. — New Atlas, 28 June 2026 This need not be a burly bully who sizes up wardrobes and coiffures to decide who would best decorate your party. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for burly

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of burly was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing burly

Rhymes for burly

See All Rhymes for burly

Browse Nearby Words

Burlington
burly
Burma mahogany
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Burly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burly. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

burly

adjective
bur·​ly ˈbər-lē How to pronounce burly (audio)
burlier; burliest
: strongly and heavily built
a burly man
burliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on burly

Nglish: Translation of burly for Spanish Speakers

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