burly

[bur-lee]

adjective

burlier, burliest 

1. large in bodily size; stout; sturdy.

   Synonyms: hefty, beefy, thickset, brawny, stocky, strapping
   Antonyms: frail, weak, puny

2. bluff; brusque.

burly

/ ˈbɜːlɪ /

adjective

1. large and thick of build; sturdy; stout

Other Word Forms

• burliness noun
• burlily adverb
• unburly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of burly¹

1250–1300; Middle English borli, burli, Old English borlīce (adv.) excellently, equivalent to bor ( a ) ruler + -līce -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of burly¹

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German burlīh lofty

Example Sentences

A burly bearded man in a blue tunic moved swiftly through grassy stubble on a windswept road in rural Damascus, collecting bones with his bare hands.

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Officers have sniped about his burly build, tendency to smile during interviews and other eccentricities.

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A thumbs up and moments later, two burly men - with no protective gear - run full speed at each other before they clash, the unmistakable sound of flesh and bone crunching.

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It’s not just his burly 6-foot-4 frame, his clean-shaven head or the boldly patterned, brightly colored Hawaiian shirts he’s adopted as an unofficial uniform.

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A burly man with tattoos inked on his head and face, Barrientos was from MS-13, a group notorious for savage killings.

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Related Words

• able-bodied 
• athletic 
• beefy 
• brawny 
• bulky 
• hulking 
• muscular 
• portly 
• stocky 
• stout 
• strapping 
• sturdy