stodgy
Americanadjective
-
heavy, dull, or uninteresting; tediously commonplace; boring.
a stodgy Victorian novel.
-
of a thick, semisolid consistency; heavy, as food.
-
stocky; thick-set.
-
old-fashioned; unduly formal and traditional.
a stodgy old gentleman.
-
dull; graceless; inelegant.
a stodgy business suit.
adjective
-
(of food) heavy or uninteresting
-
excessively formal and conventional
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stodgy
Explanation
The Queen's guards outside Buckingham Palace might seem stodgy (or stuffy and stuck-up), but they are only doing their job. Stodgy is an adjective to describe anything dull, out-of-style, or even hard to digest. Just your luck getting stuck sitting next to stodgy Aunt Irma at Thanksgiving! From the looks of her stodgy moth-smelling clothes to her stodgy or dull conversation, chances are it will be a long meal. Just hope the mashed potatoes are light and fluffy.
Vocabulary lists containing stodgy
This Is Not a Drill: Synonyms for "Boring"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Slam: Performance Poetry Lives On" and "Euphoria"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The World Is Flat
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stodgy people tend to offer some version of this argument every time a politician uses a communications medium in some novel way.
From New York Times • Aug. 27, 2017
Stodgy critics might compare the irreverent troupe to the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, but its real influences are the Simpsons, hip-hop and any movie with fierce women and guns.
From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2011
Stodgy Director Edward Robinson of the Metropolitan died, to be succeeded by the more liberal Herbert E. Winlock.
From Time Magazine Archive
Stodgy, flat-footed utilities aren't going bankrupt, as predicted, but restructuring to tap the competitive markets.
From Time Magazine Archive
Stodgy I may be,—it was odd how that term of Dunny's rankled,—but I confess that I find chance traveling acquaintances boring and avoid them when I can.
From The Firefly of France by Angellotti, Marion Polk
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
