stodgy
UK: ˈstɒdʒi | US: ˈstɑːdʒi
adj. dull, uninspired, or overly conventional
adj. (of food) heavy, filling, and often unappetizing
The word "stodgy" likely derives from the dialectal verb "stodge," meaning "to stuff" or "cram," which itself may be of imitative origin (suggesting the sound or action of stuffing). The suffix "-y" turns it into an adjective, originally describing food as heavy or dense, later extending metaphorically to describe dullness or conservatism in ideas or style. The progression reflects a vivid sensory-to-abstract shift: from literal heaviness to figurative tediousness.
The lecture was stodgy and failed to engage the students.
She avoided stodgy meals like meat pies during summer.
His stodgy writing style made the report difficult to finish.
The hotel served a stodgy breakfast of porridge and bread.
Critics called the film stodgy, lacking any creative spark.