SPINDLY Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

spindly

adjective

ˈspin(d)-lē

Definition of spindly

as in gaunt

being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of spindly But, a year later, a bright-red humanoid—swinging a pair of spindly arms for balance—beat all twelve thousand human competitors and broke the world record. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Yes, this is the fourth Spider-Man installment starring Tom Holland as the spindly hero, not including the other Marvel projects he’s popped in for. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 This one, by Adrián Xuana (San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca), is a towering, spindly incarnation of a xoloitzcuintli, those hairless Mexican dogs believed to guide spirits through the underworld. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 July 2026 The result is a bulbous body covered in scraggly fur atop four spindly legs, a stout head and little to no neck. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spindly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spindly

Adjective

But fans were alarmed by Love’s gaunt appearance and diminished singing voice.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
Apple was widely criticized in the late 2000s for not volunteering more information about Jobs’ health, especially as concerns about his gaunt appearance battered the company’s shares.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of gaunt

Adjective

To achieve the best results, spread a thin layer across the soil’s surface, leaving space around the stems.

— Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026
In its 2026 testing, conventional thin detergent sheets performed worse overall than even the lowest-scoring liquid and pod detergents.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

That’s just one aspect of No One’s Disciple, mind you — Dunn and McFadyen may be lucky enough to capture some truly once-in-a-lifetime sessions, but the focus remains on chronicling Peart’s arc from gangly Hamilton kid to worldly rock god.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
In Groff’s imagining, the real figure of Marie de France is a gangly teenager exiled by her lover, Eleanor of Aquitaine, to oversee a dreary English abbey sometime during the 12th century.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of gangly

Adjective

Thin pink straps crossed her toes, while bright feathers sprouted from the backs above slender heels.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026
Naish looks at that long curved snout and sees an ibis, one of the wading birds with a slender downcurved bill.

— Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of slender

Browse Nearby Words

spindling

spindly

spindrift

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“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spindly. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of spindly

adjective

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