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 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
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
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
The lecturer, a short, thickset man with a ruddy face and a big voice, was coming to the end of his talk.
—Joseph Loconte, National Review, 31 Aug. 2019
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
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
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
The lecturer, a short, thickset man with a ruddy face and a big voice, was coming to the end of his talk.
—Joseph Loconte, National Review, 31 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thickset
Adjective
-
Surrounded by one of the league’s most talented rosters, the 22-year-old has everything a first-year starter could ask for: World-class play-caller, stout offensive line, talented skill position players and sole control over the starting role.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
-
The other new veteran cornerback, Jack Jones, got work in 11-on-11 drills and had stout coverage on at least one play.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
28 July 2025
Adjective
-
Prior to the arrival of police at the site of the deadly stabbing, a stocky bald man and a thin woman wearing her hair in a ponytail — both described as possibly homeless — were seen leaving the area in separate directions.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 2025
-
The priest was an Assyrian monk, a stocky, bushy-bearded man with long black hair; the girl looked to be about 11.—
John Jeremiah Sullivan James Patrick Cronin Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
During early October’s harvest, when golden Chasselas grapes are at their plump and juicy peak, explore medieval villages and 10th-century stone walls on foot, like on a 6.8-mile hike from St. Saphorin to Lutry, and visit cellars aboard the Lavaux Express train.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
18 July 2025
-
Ripe cherries should be large and plump, while undersized cherries likely need more time to mature.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
That’s where Baker and his team got the idea to find the sturdiest survivors and interbreed them with their Florida siblings.—
Alex Harris
July 25,
Miami Herald,
25 July 2025
-
Persons in campgrounds should consider seeking sturdy shelter until this storm passes.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Back inside, the primary suite carries on the adobe style with thick, smooth walls and rounded edges.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
14 July 2025
-
The three-day Tampa conference was thick with criticism of DOJ and disbelief that the president could have let so many people down.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Sullivans Island Police Chief Glenn Meadows described the suspect as heavyset, in his 40s, balding with a goatee.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
-
The woman described the robbery suspect as a heavyset man with a beard, police said.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
20 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Thickset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thickset. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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