as in plump
having an excess of body fat
a roly-poly baby who grew into a slender child
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Recent Examples of roly-poly
People were bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness — such clips have drawn in millions of viewers.
—
Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
All of them opted for the adorably roly-poly breed of French bulldog.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Explore a new deep-sea exhibit Giant isopods scurry like roly-poly bugs in a touch tank.
—John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
The damp, gray roly-poly creature is a bonafide celebrity.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Understanding Armadillos Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo looks like, with its roly-poly armored form and weird shuffling walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2024
Big bellies and butts — and skinny teens and roly-poly toddlers and wiry grandpas and even Ken and Barbie look-alikes — are everywhere, all mixed in together.
—Kate Cohen, Washington Post, 22 July 2024
Brian Munoz, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Imagine a pale roly-poly the size of a muskrat wandering the seafloor.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
All of them opted for the adorably roly-poly breed of French bulldog.
—Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The same whimsy that makes roly-poly Santa cookies special is what makes the now-classic Santa mug trend a must-try this holiday season.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Dec. 2024
Explore a new deep-sea exhibit Giant isopods scurry like roly-poly bugs in a touch tank.
—John Metcalfe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
The damp, gray roly-poly creature is a bonafide celebrity.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Understanding Armadillos Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo looks like, with its roly-poly armored form and weird shuffling walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2024
Big bellies and butts — and skinny teens and roly-poly toddlers and wiry grandpas and even Ken and Barbie look-alikes — are everywhere, all mixed in together.
—Kate Cohen, Washington Post, 22 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roly-poly
Adjective
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Ironically, her swollen face looks plump and round despite her partial buccal fat removal — a procedure that extracts the soft pads of tissue found inside the cheeks to create a slimmer face.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN,
22 Mar. 2025
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It’s packed with moisture-boosting ingredients that leave your skin feeling plump, dewy and ready to glow.—
Maria Correa,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Suet Suet is defined as rendered beef fat, and suet cakes are a mixture of suet, seeds, fruit, and other bird-friendly mix-in.—
Abby Fribush,
Southern Living,
27 Mar. 2025
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These include: The fat content of the ground beef: Ground beef that’s more pink is higher in fat than ground beef that’s red.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Birmingham 3 Regional, second round Venue: Schollmaier Arena — Fort Worth, Texas Time: 6 p.m.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
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New Mexico Florida has overtaken Duke as No. 1 in offensive efficiency following both teams opening round games on Thursday.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Roly-poly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roly-poly. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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