as in plump
having a large protruding abdomen
not surprisingly, the new Hollywood biopic casts a young, athletically trim actor in the role of the paunchy, balding artist
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Recent Examples of paunchy
But if the murderer were middle-aged and paunchy . . .
—
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
Colin Farrell looks less like himself than ever in The Lobster, a movie in which the attractive leading man is transformed into a schlubby, paunchy character sporting a big mustache and corrective lenses.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
The paunchy man’s head was resting on the general’s left leg.
—Vladimir Sorokin, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
Unlike castrati of the 17th and 18th centuries — always beardless, and typically tall and paunchy — Mariño is short and lithe, and was already sporting a five o’clock shadow on a recent afternoon walk with Leia, his Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
—New York Times, 27 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Dec. 2024
Colin Farrell looks less like himself than ever in The Lobster, a movie in which the attractive leading man is transformed into a schlubby, paunchy character sporting a big mustache and corrective lenses.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 23 Jan. 2023
The paunchy man’s head was resting on the general’s left leg.
—Vladimir Sorokin, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022
Unlike castrati of the 17th and 18th centuries — always beardless, and typically tall and paunchy — Mariño is short and lithe, and was already sporting a five o’clock shadow on a recent afternoon walk with Leia, his Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
—New York Times, 27 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunchy
Adjective
-
The rooms Supremely comfy, with no gimmicky surprises — just proper, old-school amenities, the plumpest beds and (16 types of) pillows, and gleaming bathrooms decked in mottled marble.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Start with plump rhizomes, sprout them in warmth and humidity, then plant in well-draining soil.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Good Neighbor Old Fashioned ($17) uses tallow from the mothership restaurant’s brisket to fat-wash the bourbon, complemented with hay liqueur and citrusy Licor 43.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In a 2020 study, participants who followed a ketogenic diet experienced significant reductions in waist and hip circumference and total body fat percentage, without reducing their calorie intake.—
Bret Scher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The farm is home to goats, Holstein cows, potbellied and kune kune pigs, donkeys, sheep, rabbits, llamas, alpacas, guinea fowl, guinea pigs, geese, chickens, a Shetland pony, and a Shire horse.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
That’s not to say that the potbellied courthouse stooges of Norfolk County can’t rig the case.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paunchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunchy. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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