rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydumpyShort and stout
adjective

dumpy

DUM-pee/ˈdʌmpi/

Unattractively short and stout.

The pitcher has a dumpy shape beside the slender vessel.

A squat, ungainly ceramic pitcher beside a slender pitcher of comparable capacity.
Etymology
dumpEnglishlump (possible source)
+yEnglishhaving the quality of

Dumpy apparently comes from a noun sense of dump, though the connection is unclear. If that sense was “lump,” as also suggested for dumpling, the image would fit a compact, squat figure.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain314:11
there was Santa herself fat and dumpy in one of her Preposterous red and purple dresses
1900s Sci-Fi Audiobook: Henry Beam Piper - Five Sci-Fi Short Stories

More examples

  • She rejected the costume because it made her feel dumpy.
  • The cartoon gave the character a deliberately dumpy silhouette.
  • He regretted calling the short, stout figure dumpy.

Forms

dumpy · dumpier · dumpiest

Similar words

stout
Stout can neutrally describe a thick build; dumpy adds an unkind judgment of squat proportions.
squat
Squat describes low, broad proportions; dumpy also suggests unattractiveness.