burly

[ bur-lee ]

adjective

, bur·li·er, bur·li·est.

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

Derived Forms

• ˈburliness, noun

Other Words From

• burli·ly adverb
• burli·ness noun
• un·burly 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

While waiting for my beer, I chatted with the burly, bald man next to me: Donny, with a lengthy, wispy gray beard, and a yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” T-shirt.

From Slate

“It’s a mess, man. It’s a mess here,” said the burly Oquendo, 51.

From Los Angeles Times

When most people think of “Matlock,” they envision a burly, white-haired Andy Griffith as the titular character, a folksy but clever defense attorney with a Southern drawl who often sported a seersucker suit.

From Los Angeles Times

He was sauntering ahead of a burly woman who appeared more familial than sexual.

From Los Angeles Times

The day Michael Chakma was forcefully bundled into a car and blindfolded by a group of burly men in April 2019 in Dhaka, he thought it was the end.

From BBC

Related Words

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