Describing Body Shape: English Vocabulary List

long, thin, and frail in appearance

"The legs are spindly."

"The spindly legs of the old table could barely support the weight of the heavy vase and it wobbled dangerously whenever someone walked past."

possessing a lot of physical strength

"He is stalwart."

"The stalwart defender blocked every shot that the opposing team took and his teammates relied on him to protect their goal."

significantly enlarged or heavily muscular, typically due to intense physical exercise or bodybuilding

"He is swole."

"The bodybuilder was swole with enormous muscles and he could barely fit his arms through the sleeves of his extra large t shirt."

muscular or possessing well-developed physical strength

"The athlete is thewy."

"The thewy blacksmith had powerful arms from years of hammering hot metal and he could bend iron bars with his bare hands."

extremely thin and delicate in appearance, often appearing fragile or frail

"She looks waiflike."

"The waiflike model looked fragile and thin and some people worried that she might be suffering from an eating disorder."

pleasantly plump or generously proportioned in body size

"The woman is well-upholstered."

"The well-upholstered woman sat in the wide chair and the cushions sank under her weight but she seemed comfortable and happy."

(of a woman) plump or full-figured body, often highlighting voluptuous curves and a more ample physique

"Her figure is rubenesque."

"The artist preferred to paint rubenesque models with full figures and soft curves rather than the thin women who dominated fashion magazines."

having extra body weight

"The cat is well-padded."

"The well-padded man struggled to fit into the small airplane seat during his long flight."