thickset

"Thickset" is an adjective used to describe someone (or something) with a solid, stocky build. It suggests strength and robustness, pointing to a body that is broad, compact, and powerfully built rather than lean. Think of it as a firm, sturdy form with noticeable width and strength.

The word doesn't necessarily imply obesity; a thickset person can be fit and athletic. Instead, it emphasizes the quality of their build—a sense of solidity and strength. You might read about a "thickset woodsman" in a novel, conjuring an image of someone capable of hard physical labor. Or perhaps a "thickset bulldog," suggesting a powerful, determined animal.

The word is most often used for people, but it can also describe animals and even things like shrubs or trees when they grow in a dense, sturdy way. In every case, the idea is the same: not thin or delicate, but compact, solid, and strong.

While less common in everyday conversation than words like "muscular" or "sturdy," "thickset" adds a specific nuance—a sense of grounded power and unwavering resilience. If you want to paint a vivid picture of someone built like a fortress, "thickset" is the perfect word.