1
as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
dumpy little toddlers growing into lanky children
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dumpy
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
In context, Franklin was critiquing a rather dumpy drawing of an eagle lacking a regal beak by the Society of the Cincinnati, which had adopted the nation’s bird as its symbol.
—Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumpy
Adjective
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To ensure seedlings develop stout and sturdy stems, keep your grow lights on for about 14 to 16 hours per day and position the lights about 2 to 4 inches above the seed trays or seedling leaves.—
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This matchup will come down to how well Philadelphia’s stout defense plays against one of the better offensive units in the league.—
Adjective
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In this way, abandoned and often dilapidated homes are saved and renovated rather than being left to further deteriorate or be torn down.—
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To find her, Luis becomes embedded with an outlaw band of ravers, who cross the Moroccan desert in huge, dilapidated trucks.—
Adjective
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By doing this, the fibers also go from flat to fluffy, making the cushions look much more plump.—
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In addition to buying in season, look for berries with smooth, plump, and firm skin, which indicate high quality, says Michelle Hall, chef instructor at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.—
Adjective
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The narrative highlights the growing, unseen populations of lonely and neglected individuals, shedding light on a vital but often ignored aspect of public care.—
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Over six years, Papp and Archie fostered 120 dogs and cats, and the owner said Archie was a major reason some of the most neglected and frightened animals went on to live full and happy lives.—
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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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Despite his short and stocky appearance, garnering comparisons to a fire plug, La Guardia was loud and brash.—
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First, despite being short, Rossi is built muscular and stocky.—
Adjective
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With sturdy construction, ample shelf space, and glass doors, china cabinets are excellent for storing and displaying delicate china sets, trinkets, decorative plates, heirloom decor, and more.—
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
Adjective
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The most recognizable part of that frame is that stubby tail-end, reminiscent of the Ducati Diavel.—
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His retail wares included crocodile dog collars, croc stubby beer holders, croc skulls, croc tail key rings, croc tooth necklaces, croc purses, croc foot back scratchers and more.—
Cite this Entry
“Dumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumpy. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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