heavyset
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Having a solid, broad, and often strong bodily build: Describes a person whose body is broad, solidly built, and often muscular or sturdy, with a tendency to be wide rather than slender.
Usage
The adjective "heavyset" is used to describe a person's physical build. It is a single, compound adjective. It typically carries a neutral or descriptive tone, focusing on sturdiness and breadth, though context can influence its perception. * It is commonly placed before a noun (e.g., a heavyset man) or after a linking verb (e.g., He is heavyset). * It describes a permanent or inherent physical characteristic, not a temporary state.
Examples
- The heavyset bouncer stood firmly at the entrance.
- Although heavyset, he moved with surprising agility on the tennis court.
- She was a heavyset woman with a commanding presence.
Advanced Usage / Nuances
- Connotation: While primarily descriptive, "heavyset" can sometimes be used as a more polite or indirect synonym for "overweight." The intended meaning is often clarified by context. When emphasizing strength and solidity, it is neutral; when emphasizing large size, it may be euphemistic.
- Comparative and Superlative: The standard forms are heavyseter and heavysetest, though in practice, "more heavyset" and "most heavyset" are frequently used to avoid the slightly awkward sound of the inflected forms.
Variants and Related Words
- Thickset (adjective): Very similar in meaning to "heavyset," emphasizing a solid, broad, and sturdy build. Often used interchangeably.
- Stocky (adjective): Describes a person who is short, solid, and broad. It emphasizes compact strength more than "heavyset" does.
- Burly (adjective): Suggests a large, strong, heavy build, often with connotations of roughness or muscular strength.
- Sturdy (adjective): Strongly and solidly built. Can describe objects as well as people and is generally a positive term.
Synonyms
- Thickset
- Stocky
- Burly
- Sturdy
- Husky
Antonyms
- Slender
- Slim
- Lanky
- Wiry
- Slight
Adjective
- having a short and solid form or stature
- a wrestler of compact build
- he was tall and heavyset
- stocky legs
- a thickset young man