swaybacked
adjective
sway·backed
ˈswā-ˌbakt 
variants
or less commonly swayback
1
: having an abnormally hollow or sagging back
On occasion, the cow shared the pasture with a swaybacked horse.—
Wright Morris
Wright Morris2
: having or marked by abnormal forward curvature of the lumbar and cervical regions of the spine
… she stood upright, slightly swaybacked, affecting the bored look of a woman waiting for a bus.—Austin Murphy
Austin Murphyswaybacked posture
3
: marked by a sagging appearance : having or being a part with a concave center
Behind the house was a collection of sheds and swaybacked barns …—Alec Wilkinson
Alec WilkinsonExamples of swaybacked in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The earth moved, and a swaybacked giant jogged into view.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2017
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The New York Times, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Swaybacked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swaybacked. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swaybacked
adjective
sway·backed
ˈswā-ˈbakt
variants
also swayback
-ˈbak
-ˌbak
: having an unusually sagging back
a swaybacked mare
swayback
noun
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