skeletonize
verb
skel·e·ton·ize
ˈske-lə-tə-ˌnīz 
skeletonized; skeletonizing
: to produce in or reduce to skeleton form
skeletonize a leaf
Examples of skeletonize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Their feeding results in lacy-looking or skeletonized foliage, says Geiger.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025
To power the piece, Richard Mille developed a new, very compact automatic movement that is skeletonized for added pizzaz.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2023
The larvae typically skeletonize the leaves and feed on the back causing defoliation plus dryness which actually leads to the plant’s death.
—Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 9 Nov. 2022
Japanese beetles may skeletonize plant leaves; control pests by hand picking.
—The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022
Next, Toledano had Harris Freedman, a Manhattan watchmaker, place the dial back in the watch, sand-blast the steel bracelet watch strap, and skeletonize, or hollow out, the hands before painting them black.
—Hannah Elliott, Bloomberg.com, 23 Dec. 2019
The caterpillars will just skeletonize the leaves, causing the plant to die.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 16 July 2015
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025
To power the piece, Richard Mille developed a new, very compact automatic movement that is skeletonized for added pizzaz.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2023
The larvae typically skeletonize the leaves and feed on the back causing defoliation plus dryness which actually leads to the plant’s death.
—Chandra Fleming, Detroit Free Press, 9 Nov. 2022
Japanese beetles may skeletonize plant leaves; control pests by hand picking.
—The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022
Next, Toledano had Harris Freedman, a Manhattan watchmaker, place the dial back in the watch, sand-blast the steel bracelet watch strap, and skeletonize, or hollow out, the hands before painting them black.
—Hannah Elliott, Bloomberg.com, 23 Dec. 2019
The caterpillars will just skeletonize the leaves, causing the plant to die.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 16 July 2015
Cite this Entry
“Skeletonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeletonize. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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