Synonyms

stumpy

American

[stuhm-pee] / ˈstʌm pi /

adjective

stumpier, stumpiest

of the nature of or resembling a stump.
short and thick; stubby; stocky.
abounding in stumps.

a stumpy field.

stumpy British

/ ˈstʌmpɪ /

adjective

short and thickset like a stump; stubby
abounding in or full of stumps

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of stumpy

First recorded in 1590–1600; stump + -y ¹

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.

His replacement, Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs, fared no better.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

As fans of the parody British rock band will know, their original sticksman, John "Stumpy" Pepys, died in what was described in the original 1984 mockumentary as "a bizarre gardening accident".

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

Biden, in his remarks, passed up a chance to mention Stumpy, the gnarled and hollow old cherry tree that stands on the Tidal Basin’s south bank.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 10, 2024

Stumpy frequently becomes submerged in flood waters from the Potomac and has become a social media phenom.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 10, 2024

He turned to Stumpy to see an evil grin upon the man's face.

From Snowdrift A Story of the Land of the Strong Cold by Hendryx, James B. (James Beardsley)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023