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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Recent Examples of portly
One day, Lem held forth about H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to a portly man who turned out to run a publishing house.
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Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
Boyega had suggested a portly version of the young Sidney Poitier crossed with the facile charisma of the young Denzel Washington.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Aug. 2021
He was locked away to serve several life sentences, aging into a portly man with a thick white beard.
—New York Times, 13 June 2021
One of my favorite shots is of a portly man in a business suit, rubbing his hands together over and over, in an age-old gesture of distress.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2020
See all Example Sentences for portly 
Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2022
Boyega had suggested a portly version of the young Sidney Poitier crossed with the facile charisma of the young Denzel Washington.
—Armond White, National Review, 18 Aug. 2021
He was locked away to serve several life sentences, aging into a portly man with a thick white beard.
—New York Times, 13 June 2021
One of my favorite shots is of a portly man in a business suit, rubbing his hands together over and over, in an age-old gesture of distress.
—Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2020
See all Example Sentences for portly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portly
Adjective
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Find it on Amazon Moira Glow Getter Hydrating Lip Oil Leaves Lips Juicy Give your friend a gift that leaves their lips plump and juicy.Kirsten Chanel Webber, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2024
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Hence why your skin may be plump and hydrated in the summer humidity, but dry as a bone come winter.Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The most imposing constructions, hidden by nature, towered above the tree canopy.Anna Lagos, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
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The Foundling certainly sounds like a more imposing leader in the long term than the country’s autocrat-of-the-day, right?Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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The most noticeable differences are sweetness, smokiness, and fat content, notes Shore.Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2024
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However, muscles are vital in regulating blood sugar and fat levels and need movement to do that job properly.Charna Flam, People.com, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The distinguished field has its share of bad actors who have made news with their professional or personal wrongdoings.Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 25 Dec. 2024
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Each portion of the cannabis value chain was organized in its own section, clearly marked, and well distinguished from the others.Andrew DeAngelo, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The central part of the building exhibited Romanesque Revival elements, including round arched nave windows set in round arched panels.Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
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Pipe batter onto baking sheets (about 9 cookies per sheet) in round rosettes or swirls (2 to 2½ inches wide and ½ inch tall), leaving about ½ inch ofspace between cookies.Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Portly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portly. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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