as in stout
being compact and broad in build and often short in stature
a short, thickset bulldog
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Recent Examples of thickset
The passenger door opened and a thickset man with a short beard and mustache got out.
—
Jamie Quatro, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
There’s a thickset dashboard dotted with prominent air vents and a thick, smooth center section that connects the door panels.
—Andrew Wendler, Car and Driver, 8 Aug. 2023
And, with two big interior pockets, protective metal feet, and thickset handles, your luggage can accommodate everything this lifestyle entails.
—Irene Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2023
The thickset prison administrator, known as Bawar to his friends, had been keenly aware that the prison was vulnerable to assault.
—Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2022
The hotel's two restaurants, an offshoot of the Beefbar, and Biancaneve, are awash with more banquettes upholstered in colorful cozy fabrics arranged around thickset wood tables, a nod to the hotel's Alpine location.
—Rooksana Hossenally, Forbes, 31 Jan. 2022
Julia's grandmother Zora was short and thickset and typical of the women of her generation in that her days consisted of brief breaks between cooking and cleaning—if not grocery shopping or preparing a meal, she could be found scrubbing the Khrushchyovka apartment with great fa- naticism.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 4 May 2021
The lecturer, a short, thickset man with a ruddy face and a big voice, was coming to the end of his talk.
—Joseph Loconte, National Review, 31 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thickset
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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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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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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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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They’re made of a buttery soft, thick material that will keep you warm and cozy at home all winter.—
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Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.—
Adjective
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Pam was originally [written as] a heavyset girl, so all the jokes on my audition were fat jokes.—
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Behind the screen of a laptop was a heavyset man, sitting as still as an oracle.—
Cite this Entry
“Thickset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thickset. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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