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
  • Interiors are simple—there’s just a huge double bed, a daybed, and plump floor cushions.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Readers rave about the flavorful combination of fresh apples, plump, juicy raisins, and cinnamon.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of plump
Adjective
  • When carb intake falls sharply, the liver turns fat into ketones, an alternative fuel for the brain and other tissues that may cause less metabolic stress.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • While typically flushed out within a day, a small amount can build up in fat tissue with daily exposure.
    — Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of fat
Adjective
  • Atlanta won 46 games a year ago and then took two more in a first-round, best-of-7 series against the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a sphere is a solid figure that is completely round, with every point on its surface an equal distance from the center.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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