My ex-wife started a new life with the tubby postman.
Source: tatoeba (4976470)
Tubby
/ˈtʌbi/
Synonyms for "tubby" (79 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adipose, beefy, big-bellied, bloated, blocky.
- Sentence evidence is available for tubby, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wordnet, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "tubby".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "tubby"
Keep "tubby" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "tubby" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "tubby", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "tubby" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
8 entriestubby appearancetubby cheekstubby childtubby figuretubby persontubby physiquetubby stomachtubby toddler
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
6 total sentences available.
At a corner convenience store before midnight, I pick up a cold bottled green tea and a cream cheese pastry. At the counter is a lady vendor that I have seen before. She is wearing a pandemic mask. I ask, "Where are you from?" "Ethiopia," she answers. "Wow, that's why you don't look East Indian. The rest in this store are all East Indians. How long have you been in Canada?" "I've been here since January," she says. It is the 24th of October of 2021. I add, "You speak good English." "I went to an English school there in Ethiopia," she explains. "You speak English well," I reiterate. "Thank you!" she exclaims happily. Outside the store, on the other side of the street, is Mike the lonely old tubby Turk waiting at the bus stop. I see him often at that store.
Source: tatoeba (10459972)
On the sunny 29th of October of 2021, I had my usual medium-sized iced green tea at the local cafe on Lulu Island. At the counter, Max the Chinese said that she was going to dye her hair purple once it has grown a bit. It was blue before she had cut it. Through the window, I could see that fresh teenagers were already celebrating Halloween with fancy costumes. At another table sat two Filipino men, one thinner in black and the other handsome and tubby in blue.
Source: tatoeba (10470524)
Grace bent to her oars with a springing verve and force which made the tubby little boat draw towards the shore, the whispering lapse of water gliding under its sides all the while.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "tubby"?
Closest matches include adipose, beefy, big-bellied, bloated, blocky.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "tubby"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.