When would people use these words?

Question

Corpulent, plump, obese, pudgy, heavyset, fleshy, fat, paunchy, burly, overweight, roly-poly, bulky, portly, and beefy

for example: obese would be used by a doctor

Answer 1

Corpulent is very poetic, and implies grossly overweight, to the point of being disgusting.

Plump and pudgy, as well as portly or beefy seem kind and affectionate ways of saying fat. Plump and pudgy are suited towards women or kids, whereas portly and beefy are suited to men. See also chunky and tubby, although those are less affectionate. Beefy can also mean muscular, as can burly, so these are more appropriate to stocky men. Again, these seem friendly.

Fleshy (see also meaty) seems a bit graphic. Probably best suited to imply the uncovered folds of fat.

Never heard paunchy, but a paunch is a bloated belly, so probably best used for a bloated or big-bellied overweight person.

Heavyset is very PC. It implies not necessarily fat, but more than stocky. See also rubenesque (more appropriate for women).

Obese and overweight are scientific/medical and PC. They are technically defined by height/weight proportions and body mass indexes. Overwieght is when a person is above their ideal weight, and obese is when they are more than overweight. In common usage, these are polite ways to say fat and reeeeeally fat.

Fat is fat. Eat too much fat, and you'll get fat. All of the above mean fat.

Answer 2

I would say it depended on how you felt about the person: if I liked someone: plump, pudgy, heavyset, bulky, portly. If not; obese, fleshy, fat, roly-poly. A writer might use: corpulent, burly, portly.

Answer 3

A writer may use corpulent and portly, more often than the rest of us.
I agree doctors are more prone to use the terms obese and morbidly obese.
I think of cuddly a Grandma when I hear plump.

Answer 4

A doctor would probably use obese and overweight.While a girl who hates you or thinks you're annoying will say you're bulky,beefy and pudgy.

Answer 5

People would use these words when refering to someone or something overweight.....Obese would be used by anyone...it's just a polite way of saying someone is fat....Hope this helped