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adjective · 2 syllables · /ˈdʌmpi/

DUMPY

What does "DUMPY" mean?

Short and stout in build, or shabby and unappealing in appearance.

Meanings

  1. Short and thickset; squat in shape. A dumpy little teapot sat on the shelf. informal
  2. Shabby, dingy, or unattractively run-down. They moved out of the dumpy apartment as soon as they could. informal

Word origin

From 'dump' in an older sense of a shapeless lump or short object, plus '-y'; the precise origin is uncertain but it has meant 'short and squat' since the 18th century.

Remember it

DUMPY = a 'dump' shape plus -Y: low, lumpy, and a bit of a heap.

A little poem

The kettle squats, all belly and no grace,
yet pours warm comfort better than a vase.

couplet

Wordplay

  • The squat little teapot insisted it wasn't dumpy, just 'efficiently proportioned for heat retention.'

What it teaches

A low, ungainly shape often holds the most; charm and usefulness rarely share a silhouette.

Quick facts

What does DUMPY mean?

Short and stout in build, or shabby and unappealing in appearance.

Is DUMPY a valid word?

Yes — DUMPY is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is DUMPY?

DUMPY has 5 letters and 2 syllables.

Where does DUMPY come from?

From 'dump' in an older sense of a shapeless lump or short object, plus '-y'; the precise origin is uncertain but it has meant 'short and squat' since the 18th century.

What can DUMPY teach us?

A low, ungainly shape often holds the most; charm and usefulness rarely share a silhouette.

How players do

Be the first to solve it.

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