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Definitions

burly

[bur-lee] / ˈbɜr li /
ADJECTIVE
husky
Synonyms
STRONGEST
able-bodied athletic beefy brawny bulky hulking muscular portly stocky stout strapping sturdy
WEAK
beefcake big bruising gorillalike hefty hulky powerful strong thickset well-built
Antonyms
STRONGEST
delicate frail infirm skinny slight small thin tiny underweight weak
WEAK
light slim

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.

Senator Markwayne Mullin, nominated to head the Department of Homeland Security, is a burly former wrestler, a mixed martial arts fighter and a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

If he had little use for Rudolph’s burly Brutalism, he took his inspiration from “The Shingle Style,” Scully’s pioneering study of those late 19th-century American houses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

“I’m in my 18th year at Chili’s,” Paquette, a burly, genial guy, told me.

From Slate • Aug. 11, 2025

A burly man in his mid-50s who wears short-sleeved polo shirts emblazoned with the company name, Maloney Jr. has been around his dad’s shop since he was 8.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2025

All of a sudden he noticed that the other fellow, the burly one, had stood up and moved a step forward.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns