spindly
adjective
spin·dly
ˈspin(d)-lē 
ˈspin-dᵊl-ē
spindlier; spindliest
1
: of a disproportionately tall or long and thin appearance that often suggests physical weakness
spindly legs
2
: frail or flimsy in appearance or structure
a spindly tower
Examples of spindly in a Sentence
spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village
Recent Examples on the Web
The doe’s eyes blinked on either side of a spindly trunk.
—
Devon O’Neil, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
The mountains on either side of the water give way to towering canyon walls, spruce and pine thin out, and only stout dwarf willow and spindly alder remain.
—Chloe Berge, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Now, the 36-year-old grower, who inherited the generational plot from his father, can only wave his arm dejectedly at row after row of weak, spindly stems, the result of catastrophic floods that swept the South Asian nation’s agricultural heartland to a degree not experienced in three decades.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
The spindly, 18-inch-tall stalk has tiny white flowers.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spindly
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.
Devon O’Neil, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025
The mountains on either side of the water give way to towering canyon walls, spruce and pine thin out, and only stout dwarf willow and spindly alder remain.
—Chloe Berge, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
Now, the 36-year-old grower, who inherited the generational plot from his father, can only wave his arm dejectedly at row after row of weak, spindly stems, the result of catastrophic floods that swept the South Asian nation’s agricultural heartland to a degree not experienced in three decades.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
The spindly, 18-inch-tall stalk has tiny white flowers.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spindly
Cite this Entry
“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spindly. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spindly
adjective
spin·dly
ˈspin-(d)lē
-dᵊl-ē
spindlier; spindliest
: of a tall or long and thin appearance that often suggests physical weakness
spindly legs
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share