portly

“I never wanted to play Falstaff,” he says, of Shakespeare’s portly, boastful knight from “Henry IV.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

But instead of portly people enjoying futuristic entertainment, we will all be skinnier thanks to today’s GLP-1 medications.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026

For a long time, Kundan Lal Gujral - whom the newspaper described as "a portly, florid" man with a "splendid moustache" - was credited for the booming success.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2024

As I grew up, a frequent refrain from friends and family members—in particular my zaftig aunts and portly uncles—was to opine about how they wished they were slim like me.

From Slate ● Oct. 4, 2023

On top, the portly man sported a long-sleeved suit shirt with a bow tie.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

Mr. Gong’s Abby, older and portlier, is a terrier-beagle.

From New York Times ● Apr. 22, 2023

"Most excitingly, our treasured, mischievous Peter Rabbit makes an appearance – albeit older, slower and portlier."

From Reuters ● Jan. 26, 2016

As the luckless Vinnie, Mr. Van Swearingen, considerably shorter and portlier than Mr. Shannon, sports the saddest-looking combover I’ve ever seen — it’s really a half-combover.

From New York Times ● Aug. 9, 2013

“She’s talking to my twin,” he said, apparently not offended that Mr. Asner is portlier than the real thing.

From New York Times ● May 19, 2011

Sir Norman,—a little portlier, a little graver, in the serious dignity of pater familias; and Leoline, with the dark, beautiful eyes, the falling, shining hair, the sweet smiling lips, and lovely, placid face of old.

From The Midnight Queen by May Agnes Fleming

Faix, my modher, no longer ago than Friday night last, argued down Bartle Meegan's throath, that you and Biddy Martin wor the two portliest weemen that comes into the chapel.

From Phil Purcel, The Pig-Driver; The Geography Of An Irish Oath; The Lianhan Shee Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three by William Carleton

“Very pretty!” murmured the ladies, and the portliest of them went a step further and added: “And cheap!” but no one showed the faintest disposition to buy.

From The Love Affairs of Pixie by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey

Of course they must!—the case was as plain as the portliest of noses on the most rubicund of faces.

From Homes of American Statesmen With Anecdotical, Personal, and Descriptive Sketches by Various

"Nay, fair one, you pass not our bounds without toll," said the portliest of the set.

From The Prince and the Page; a story of the last crusade by Charlotte Mary Yonge

He grew to be very thin before he died, thinner than Benjamin Dobbs, who is now portliest among the portly.

From Hans Brinker; or, the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge