Portly (adjective)

Meaning & Definition of Portly

dignified, stately
heavy or rotund of body, stout

Portly (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

having an excess of body fat

"a portly gentleman who loved to cook for his family and friends"

similar: blubbery, chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross, lardy, obese, overweight, plump, podgy (chiefly British), pudgy, replete, roly-poly, rotund, round, tubby

related: beefy, bulky, chunky, heavy, heavyset, plumpish, stocky, stout, thick, thickset, weighty, brawny, burly, hefty, husky, dumpy, squat, stubby, hippy, paunchy, potbellied, flabby, soft, ample, buxom, corn-fed, ripe, zaftig, endomorphic

opposite: lean, skinny, slender, slim, spare, thin

near: angular, bony, gaunt, lank, lanky, rawboned, sinewy, cadaverous, emaciated, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted, puny, scraggy, scrawny, slight, rangy, reedy, spindling, spindly, stringy, svelte, sylphlike, twiggy, waspish, weedy, willowy, ectomorphic, anorexic
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner

"walked with the portly grace of the grande dame that she was"

similar: august, dignified, distingué, distinguished, imposing, solemn, staid, stately

related: decorous, proper, seemly, grave, grim, po-faced (British), sober, somber, aristocratic, elegant, elevated, handsome, lordly, magisterial, majestic, noble

opposite: flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, silly, undignified

near: coarse, crass, crude, improper, indecent, uncouth, unseemly, vulgar

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Portly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Portly:

Chiefly British: podgy

blubbery, chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross, lardy, obese, overweight, plump, pudgy, replete, roly-poly, rotund, round, tubby, august, dignified, distingué, distinguished, imposing, solemn, staid, stately

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Portly

Words with the opposite meaning of Portly:

lean, skinny, slender, slim, spare, thin, flighty, frivolous, giddy, goofy, silly, undignified

Related Words for Portly

beefy, bulky, chunky, heavy, heavyset, plumpish, stocky, stout, thick, thickset, weighty, brawny, burly, hefty, husky, dumpy, squat, stubby, hippy, paunchy, potbellied, flabby, soft, ample, buxom, corn-fed, ripe, zaftig, endomorphic, decorous

Near Antonyms of Portly

angular, bony, gaunt, lank, lanky, rawboned, sinewy, cadaverous, emaciated, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted, puny, scraggy, scrawny, slight, rangy, reedy, spindling, spindly, stringy, svelte, sylphlike, twiggy, waspish, weedy, willowy, ectomorphic, anorexic

Word Forms of Portly

Inflections: portlier, portliest

Derived words: portliness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Portly

port:3

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Portly

What does "Portly" mean?

"Portly" means dignified, stately. As an adjective, it is defined as: dignified, stately. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Portly"?

Other words for "Portly" include blubbery, chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross and lardy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Portly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Portly"?

There are 71 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Portly". Common alternatives include blubbery, chubby, corpulent, fat, fleshy, full, gross, lardy, obese and overweight.

What is the opposite of "Portly"?

Antonyms of "Portly" include lean, skinny, slender, slim, spare, thin, flighty and frivolous. Near antonyms include angular, bony, gaunt and lank.

How do you use "Portly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Portly" in a sentence: "a portly gentleman who loved to cook for his family and friends"; "walked with the portly grace of the grande dame that she was".

Is "Portly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Portly" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Portly"?

"Portly" is pronounced /ˈpȯrt-lē/ and divided into syllables as port·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Portly"?

"Portly" comes from port:3. First known use: 15th century.