What does "thickset" mean?
A thick hedge.
Thickset
/ˈθɪkˌsɛt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A thick hedge.
- Grammar: thickset is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: compact, stocky, able-bodied, adipose.
- Useful contrasts: gaunt, lanky, loose.
- Usage evidence: In the morning of the 5th of February of 2022, on my way to the pizzeria and cafe, I saw a good-looking man in black clothing and black baseball cap, as he was vaping near the pub and carrying a box of cups of coffee. At the cafe, a strong, thickset man in black entered to get his coffee.
How to use "thickset"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "thickset" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "thickset" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "thickset" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "thickset" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "thickset" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "compact" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "thickset", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A thick hedge. countable, obsolete
"1858, Edward Bulwer-Lytton (as Pisistratus Caxton), What Will He Do with It? Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, Volume 4, Book 11, Chapter 7, p. 294, Had Darrell been placed amidst the circumstances that make happy the homes of earnest men, Darrell would have been mirthful; had Waife been placed amongst the circumstances that concentrate talent, and hedge round life with trained thicksets and belting laurels, Waife would have been grave."
- 2 A stout, twilled cotton cloth; a fustian corduroy, or velveteen. historical, uncountable
"1812, George Crabbe, Tales, London: J. Hatchard, Tale 4, “Procrastination,” p. 73, When he, with thickset coat of Badge-man’s blue, Moves near her shaded silk of changeful hue;"
- 3 A piece of clothing made from this fabric. countable, historical
"[…] his coat was originally what is called a thickset, but out at the elbows;"
Adjective
- 1 Having a relatively short, heavy build.
"a thickset, muscular figure"
- 2 Densely crowded together; made up of things that are densely crowded together; closely planted.
"a thickset wood"
- 3 Densely covered (with something).
"a gully thickset with brambles"
Adjective
- 1 planted or growing close together wordnet
- 2 having a short and solid form or stature wordnet
Example
"In the morning of the 5th of February of 2022, on my way to the pizzeria and cafe, I saw a good-looking man in black clothing and black baseball cap, as he was vaping near the pub and carrying a box of cups of coffee. At the cafe, a strong, thickset man in black entered to get his coffee."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "thickset"?
Common synonyms include: compact, stocky, able-bodied, adipose, athletic, beefy.
How do you use "thickset" in a sentence?
In the morning of the 5th of February of 2022, on my way to the pizzeria and cafe, I saw a good-looking man in black clothing and black baseball cap, as he was vaping near the pub and carrying a box of cups of coffee. At the cafe, a strong, thickset man in black entered to get his coffee.
How do you pronounce "thickset"?
Pronounced /ˈθɪkˌsɛt/.
Etymology
From thick + set.