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
-
From having the viscous juices of decomposed leaves that kept her plump leak through a tear in her side, as happened to a few of her siblings.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Moustache joined my plump tortoiseshell Toffee, the progeny of frisky barn cats, an elderly rabbit rescued from neglect, and my best friend Bacon, a good dog adopted from Lifeline Puppy Rescue years before.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The healthy fats in the avocado also help your body better absorb the fat-soluble vitamin A and antioxidants present in the mango, maximizing the nutritional impact of every bite.—
Lauren Manaker,
SELF,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Sardines are naturally oily and have a higher fat content, which favors omega-3 delivery, while still providing strong protein.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Early on, Don Cheadle has a droll cameo as a potbellied motivational speaker with long dreds who’s really a pyramid-scam hustler, and the point is: This is what the money culture has come to — scams for suckers.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Paunchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunchy. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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