1
as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature dumpy little toddlers growing into lanky children
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect we could only find rooms at a dumpy motel on the outskirts of the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dumpy The dumpy old Abe Stark Sports Center, the ice rink on the boardwalk between 19th and 20th Streets, is getting a major renovation as well. —
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 24 Sep. 2025 Torry’s candidly dumpy, dingy, dated, wood panel lined courtroom allowed for the placement of contemporary art and the banging of nails into walls which would have been forbidden in one of the ornate ground floor courtrooms. —Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 The Slip concerns sixteen-year-old Nathaniel Rothstein, a dumpy sad sack who, after getting into a fight at school, is sent to live with his uncle in Austin for the summer of 1998. —Lucas Schaefer june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025 At the start of the production, when Blanche arrives at her sister’s dumpy apartment, a lithe young man (Jabez Sykes) contorts himself in abstract choreography. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 24 Sep. 2025 Torry’s candidly dumpy, dingy, dated, wood panel lined courtroom allowed for the placement of contemporary art and the banging of nails into walls which would have been forbidden in one of the ornate ground floor courtrooms. —Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 The Slip concerns sixteen-year-old Nathaniel Rothstein, a dumpy sad sack who, after getting into a fight at school, is sent to live with his uncle in Austin for the summer of 1998. —Lucas Schaefer june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025 At the start of the production, when Blanche arrives at her sister’s dumpy apartment, a lithe young man (Jabez Sykes) contorts himself in abstract choreography. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumpy
Adjective
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At just under 34 inches tall, this stout king can be freestanding but also fits neatly under counters, which are typically 35 to 40 inches high.— Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
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Willy laments to his stout and thankless wife, Linda (Laurie Metcalf, upholding her reputation as a Broadway MVP), that buyers on the road laugh at him — that one even called him a shrimp.— Naveen Kumar, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The city announced the move to the East Village in March, as part of the plan to close the dilapidated and sometimes violence-prone 30th Street center.— Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
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Its dilapidated state and lack of funding — just $25,000 was budgeted for programming by the city last year — prevents the facility from offering a full slate of services for residents.— Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The amount of sugar is scaled back, but there's plenty of sweetness from plump raisins and a dusting of powdered sugar.— Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
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These plump fine lines, increase collagen production, prevent and improve loss of firmness, hydrate, and help with moisture retention.— Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For patients living with rare and neglected diseases, the next breakthrough treatment might already be sitting in a pharmaceutical company’s filing cabinet.— Annette Bakker, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
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When first performed at L.A. Opera a decade ago, the lavish production, co-produced with English National Opera, helped recover a neglected opera.— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This adorable costume looks poised to rule over The Masked Singer stage with a flick of her paw and a wag of her stumpy tail.— Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
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With the costume’s feet at knee-level, an elevated stage (and smoke machine) helped give the appearance that Klum was walking around on E.T.’s characteristically stumpy legs.— Oscar Holland, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Also called meadow mice, these rodents are 3 to 7 inches long with short legs and tails with stocky bodies.— Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
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The defense also had a witness who described the shooter with the shotgun as bearded, stocky, and dark-skinned.— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These Bagsmart Clear Toiletry Bags keep everything visible and TSA-compliant, with a sturdy plastic construction that doesn’t feel flimsy or prone to tearing.— Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
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Numerous designers, including Alessandro Michele and the late Vivienne Westwood, have credited the Queen as an inspiration, not least for the kind of sturdy, tweedy daywear shown in a section devoted to her off-duty garments.— Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Alongside Lincoln Park, the small Parque de Mexico has what looks like a stubby Stonehenge of empty plinths.— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
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Short stubby legs and a rounded headboard also amplify the twee appeal of the frame.— Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/dumpy. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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