stodgy

adjective

ˈstä-jē How to pronounce stodgy (audio)
stodgier; stodgiest
Synonyms of stodgynext
1
: extremely old-fashioned (as in opinions, attitudes, etc.) : hidebound
… received a pompously Victorian letter from his stodgy father …—E. E. S. Montagu
2
a
: drab
b
: dowdy
3
: boring, dull
… out on a peaceful rather stodgy Sunday boat trip …—Edna Ferber
4
: having a rich filling quality : heavy
stodgy bread
5
: moving in a slow plodding way especially as a result of physical bulkiness
stodgily
ˈstä-jə-lē How to pronounce stodgy (audio)
adverb
stodginess
ˈstä-jē-nəs How to pronounce stodgy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of stodgy

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Examples of stodgy in a Sentence

the sitcom was offbeat and interesting in its first season, but has since become predictable and stodgy
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
If the dip still feels a bit stodgy, try adding a little more tahini or olive oil to smooth it out. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026 Its direction is stodgy and unimpressive, and its screenplay stilted and mawkish. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026 Think of it as pasta salad that’s more crunchy greens than stodgy pasta, or a green salad with the extra support and satiety of protein and carbs. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026 That sort of living-document approach helps keep The Invite from coming off as overly stagy or stodgy. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stodgy

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of stodgy was in 1884

Rhymes for stodgy

See All Rhymes for stodgy

Browse Nearby Words

stodginess
stodgy
stoep
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stodgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stodgy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stodgy

adjective
ˈstäj-ē How to pronounce stodgy (audio)
stodgier; stodgiest
1
: moving in a slow struggling way especially as a result of physical bulkiness
2
: having no excitement or interest : dull, boring
a stodgy day
3
: very old-fashioned in attitude or point of view
stodgily
ˈstäj-ə-lē How to pronounce stodgy (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on stodgy

Nglish: Translation of stodgy for Spanish Speakers

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