swaybacked

adjective

sway·​backed ˈswā-ˌbakt How to pronounce swaybacked (audio)
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
2
: 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
swaybacked 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

Examples 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swaybacked.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of swaybacked was in 1680

Dictionary Entries Near swaybacked

Cite this Entry

“Swaybacked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swaybacked. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

swaybacked

adjective
sway·​backed ˈswā-ˈbakt How to pronounce swaybacked (audio)
variants also swayback
-ˈbak How to pronounce swaybacked (audio)
-ˌbak
: having an unusually sagging back
a swaybacked mare
swayback noun
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