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
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
The father, Alexei Shostakov (played by David Harbour), is now a bearded and paunchy Soviet-era superhero known as Red Guardian, the counterpart of Captain America.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
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
The father, Alexei Shostakov (played by David Harbour), is now a bearded and paunchy Soviet-era superhero known as Red Guardian, the counterpart of Captain America.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
See All Example Sentences for paunchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paunchy
Adjective
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Isotonic Hydra Gel Eye Masks by Espa: These eye masks instantly hydrate, plump, and brighten the under-eye and contour area, softening dehydration lines and signs of tiredness.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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The classic brown color delivers a soft, satin finish, while maracuja oil and hyaluronic acid work together to hydrate, plump, and condition your lips.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On the top of Vo’s wishlist was a stem-cell fat grafting procedure.—
Parizaad Khan Sethi,
Allure,
2 May 2025
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When there is too little thyroid activity, your body stores the excess energy as body fat, often leading to unintended weight gain.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Perun summoned a potbellied officer from the T.D.F. brigade to the operations center.—
Luke Mogelson,
The New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2024
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What could be more luxurious than checking in without having to wade through a maze of slot machines and a cloud of cigarette smoke, dodging potbellied dudes in tank tops?—
Jay McInerney,
Town & Country,
18 June 2023
Cite this Entry
“Paunchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paunchy. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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