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

Synonyms of spindly

• gaunt
• skinny
• lanky
• thin
• gangling
• bony
• gangly
• slender

Examples of spindly in a Sentence

spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village

Recent Examples on the Web

The Sheep’s Head Way sits on one of southwest Ireland’s most spindly peninsulas — just 19 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, yet packing 150 kilometers of hill walks inside it. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Sheep’s Head Way, Ireland The Sheep’s Head Way sits on one of the most spindly peninsulas in southwest Ireland. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026

Sure, in the light of the showroom, the 20-horsepower T could claim a utilitarian charm, its spindly frame topped with an assortment of interchangeable bodies and seating configurations. —Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026

However, many annuals can become spindly and produce fewer blooms than expected unless they are pinched back. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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