burly

adjective

bur·​ly ˈbər-lē How to pronounce burly (audio)
burlier; burliest
Synonyms of burlynext
: strongly and heavily built : husky
a burly man
burlily
ˈbər-lə-lē How to pronounce burly (audio)
adverb
burliness
ˈbər-lē-nəs How to pronounce burly (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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Examples of burly in a Sentence

a burly delivery man brought the furniture
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One whack and the burly guard or crime boss henchman is knocked out for the rest of the caper. — Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025 The episode leaves burly men and small, scared children huddled together in the cavity of an upturned wagon. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025 There’s a reason the burly, Tundra warrior still holds its own as the elder statesman of its class. — Josh Max, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 The burly Michigan product can hold his own in a phone booth, and his toughness and strong push help overcome his physical limitations. — Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burly

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of burly was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing burly

Rhymes for burly

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Browse Nearby Words

burly
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Cite this Entry

“Burly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burly. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

burly

adjective
bur·​ly ˈbər-lē How to pronounce burly (audio)
burlier; burliest
: strongly and heavily built
a burly man
burliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on burly

Nglish: Translation of burly for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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