roly-poly

adjective

ˌrō-lē-ˈpō-lē How to pronounce roly-poly (audio)
Definition of roly-polynext
as in plump
having an excess of body fat a roly-poly baby who grew into a slender child

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 roly-poly Something, oh, like a roly-poly, 73-year-old manager tumbling ass over teakettle, as the old-timers say, when a bat thrown by Vladimir Guerrero clipped his left hip. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 13 July 2026 The roly-poly robot named after a mythological many-eyed giant has depth-sensing cameras attached to 20 telescoping legs that radiate from a central core. — Allen Breed, Fortune, 28 May 2026 This roly-poly robot will be holding thousands of small drones, or dandelion drones, within. — Tom Brown, Space.com, 25 May 2026 The lounge’s furniture had been softened with curvy sofas and roly-poly club chairs, but that sensation of floating above the city felt familiar. — Chris Schalkx, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025 Regardless of what they’re called, most people know exactly what an armadillo looks like, with its roly-poly armored form and weird shuffling walk. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for roly-poly
  1. plump
  2. fat
  3. round
Adjective
  • And everything is controlled from an iPod beside the ultra-plump bed.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Luong used this liquid blush to restore a natural flush to her makeup, giving her skin a plump, radiant look.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of plump
Adjective
  • With fatter paychecks, customers are rebelling against the chains that serve up shrinkflation and replace workers with broken self-checkout machines and touchscreen kiosks.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In another trial, researchers with the UC San Diego School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University are also analyzing blood from 84 adult participants with HIV and abnormal levels of body fat buildup.
    — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of fat
Adjective
  • This gorgeous night dress will keep you cool in the summer, and features a romantic lace trim, round neckline, and luminous shell buttons.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Could 2025 seventh-round Zeek Biggers and fifth-rounder Phillips end up helping the Dolphins more than Grant, Miami’s first-round pick in the last draft run by Chris Grier?
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of round

Browse Nearby Words

roll up
roly-poly
romance
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Cite this Entry

“Roly-poly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roly-poly. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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