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Glite Dictionary
strapping

strapping

1 4.4
A person who is tall and strongly built
  • adjective
  • /ˈstræpɪŋ/
translation icon : robusto
  • He is a tall, strong, strapping athlete who excels in every sport he tries.
  • a strapping guy
  • big and strapping
  • tall and strapping

And he goes through all his sons and all these are like big, strapping, strong, you know, strong men.

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Examples

  • And he goes through all his sons and all these are like big, strapping, strong, you know, strong men.

    Dr. Josh Axe

  • You might be a big, strapping, brave guy.

    Blog text (34)

  • "He's a big, strapping man," Father said.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The strapping young man helped carry the heavy boxes up the stairs.

  • Everyone admired her new boyfriend, a big, strapping guy with a charming smile.

Synonyms

burly
vsstrapping
24 4.6

A large, strong person with heavy muscles

is taller and not only defined by heavy muscular bulk
beefy
vsstrapping
16 4.0

A large strong person or animal with big, heavy muscles

is taller and implies height as well as strong build
husky
vsstrapping
10 3.3

A person who is big and strong

is taller rather than only muscular and heavily built
hulking
vsstrapping
1 5.5

Very big and heavy, often looking awkward or scary

is taller and suggests strength rather than awkward, heavy size
buirdly
vsstrapping
  • UK
9.9

Large and muscular with a heavy body

is neutral standard usage rather than the regional term

Antonyms

weak
524 1.0

Not strong in body or muscles and easily tired

petite
31 4.4

A clothing size for women who are short or slim

How Strong

brawny
6 4.7
muscular
49 2.8
strapping
1 4.4
sturdy
76 2.1
average
∞ 1.0
slim
60 1.0
frail
52 4.1

Surface Forms

strapping positive

Morphology

strapping = strap (opaque) = strap + ing

Although formed by the verb 'strap' + '-ing', the adjectival meaning 'tall, strong' cannot be derived from the sense 'to fasten', indicating a semantic shift.

Etymology

Strapping comes from the simple word strap, meaning a strong band or belt used to hold things tight. So a strapping person is like someone 'held together' by strength and size, meaning 'tall, strong, and heavily built'.