1
as in plump
having an excess of body fat
a portly gentleman who loved to cook for his family and friends
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2
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner
walked with the portly grace of the grande dame that she was
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portly
In Facebook groups dedicated to Texas barbecue fandom, a recently popular meme shows a portly man dancing on a stripper pole.
—
Elizabeth Findell, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2022
Made of steel, the watch had in its dial a sketch of a portly man, his face framed by round glasses and his broad shoulders clad in a wide-lapelled jacket.
—Sonia Paul, Wired, 1 Mar. 2022
That’s when the portly orphan, who was riding in the van with her, slices off her face to wear it as his own.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2022
One day, Lem held forth about H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to a portly man who turned out to run a publishing house.
—Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for portly
Elizabeth Findell, WSJ, 9 Mar. 2022
Made of steel, the watch had in its dial a sketch of a portly man, his face framed by round glasses and his broad shoulders clad in a wide-lapelled jacket.
—Sonia Paul, Wired, 1 Mar. 2022
That’s when the portly orphan, who was riding in the van with her, slices off her face to wear it as his own.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2022
One day, Lem held forth about H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to a portly man who turned out to run a publishing house.
—Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
See All Example Sentences for portly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portly
Adjective
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The formula gets bonus points for not feeling sticky, not traveling or feathering, and smoothing out lip lines for a plump, pouty effect.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The prickly pear extract soothe irration and the brand’s signature VIP O2 complex evens your skin tone and hydrates without any tightness, leaving your face plump, clean, and ready for anything.—
Tanya Akim,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At the heart of the property is the tahona, used to grind the agave used to make mezcal; this one is solar-powered though no less imposing.—
Carley Rojas Ávila,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Drafted in the second round, 50th overall, last year out of TCU, the physically imposing, 6-foot-6, 250-pound lefty debuted at the Single-A level in April.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The 16-ounce prime Angus New York strip includes duck fat confit Dutch potatoes, pancetta, king trumpet mushrooms, roasted pearl onions, Shropshire blue cheese, red frill mustard and Cabernet reduction.—
Jessica Peralta,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
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Whole seeds provide more fiber, potassium, and zinc, while shelled pepitas offer more protein, fat, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The event features a 155-foot-long table adorned with 139 candles and meticulously set with 1,452 pieces of cutlery for 160 distinguished guests, NBC News reported.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Set in Columbus, Indiana, a city known for its unusual concentration of distinguished modern architecture, it’s centered on Casey, a teen-age girl with a difficult family background whose aesthetic passion has been awakened by the city’s masterworks.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Smoothing round poppy seeds and sea salt—which do the gentle buffing—come suspended in a hunk of detoxifying French blue clay, nourishing olive fruit oil, and zingy peppermint essential oil, the latter of which wakes you up better than any iPhone alarm.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Sloomoo is the brand’s adorable shape-shifting mascot, which isn’t round or straight, and isn’t small or tall, but because it’s made of slime, can stretch into any shape at all.—
Sharon Edelson,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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