as in belly
an enlarged or bulging abdomen
Santa is depicted as a white-bearded man with a big paunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paunch
About 200 yards below us is a stag, carrying the paunch and heavy antlers of an old highland warrior.
—
Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
That’s because Kelly is as phony as her foamy pregnant paunch, having built a career on a mountain of lies similar in scale to ad man Draper’s.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 July 2024
My husband, who has a noticeable paunch, approached her next, asking her to let him by.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
Still — the slim build, though it’s now accented with a slight paunch.
—Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for paunch
Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
That’s because Kelly is as phony as her foamy pregnant paunch, having built a career on a mountain of lies similar in scale to ad man Draper’s.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 July 2024
My husband, who has a noticeable paunch, approached her next, asking her to let him by.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
Still — the slim build, though it’s now accented with a slight paunch.
—Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for paunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunch
Noun
-
Weight gain during perimenopause and menopause is common, according to the Mayo Clinic, as hormonal changes, aging and lifestyle factors slow metabolism and shift fat toward the belly.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Always the yellow bellies, never liquor.—
Andrew Callahan,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Coffee can increase acid production—which can lead to nausea, acid reflux, and an upset stomach.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This duo appears to block certain chemical messengers in the gut and brain that trigger nausea and vomiting, and improve digestion by speeding up the rate at which food leaves the stomach.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Those on the scene identified the pig as male and likely a potbelly.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
3 Oct. 2025
-
This digestive machinery takes up a lot of room, giving the animals a potbelly.—
Alex Fox,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunch. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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