as in gaunt
suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease
the stray kitten's skeletal body was pitiful to look at
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Recent Examples of skeletal
Though skeletal remains are missing, some objects had been burned or melted down.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
As an anthropology major, her first job was working on Howard’s African Burial Ground project as an osteological technical assistant doing skeletal analysis of the 490 full human remains that were excavated in lower Manhattan.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
The skeletal population was exclusively of men in good health, aged 40 to 60 years, according to the news release.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Investigators said an X-ray scan of the wrapping revealed a human skeletal structure, confirming that the contents were of human origin and in an advanced stage of decomposition, with observable human skin.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
As an anthropology major, her first job was working on Howard’s African Burial Ground project as an osteological technical assistant doing skeletal analysis of the 490 full human remains that were excavated in lower Manhattan.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
The skeletal population was exclusively of men in good health, aged 40 to 60 years, according to the news release.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Investigators said an X-ray scan of the wrapping revealed a human skeletal structure, confirming that the contents were of human origin and in an advanced stage of decomposition, with observable human skin.
—Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeletal
Adjective
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As Alpha waits for the results of blood tests, she is startled by the sudden appearance of a gaunt, jittery stranger in their apartment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Lie’s Evans is gaunt and distant, a shy man hidden behind a veil of cigarette smoke, unable to process — or even express — his grief.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Rocking back and forth nervously during a television appearance, a haggard-looking Diaz-Canel acknowledged the same talks, which his government had denied were taking place just days before.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
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Wrexham, meanwhile, was near the bottom, struggling in England’s lowest division under a haggard fan-ownership group keeping it on life support.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skeletal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeletal. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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