BONEY Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

bony

adjective

ˈbō-nē

variants also boney

Definition of bony

as in skinny

having a noticeably small amount of body fat that bony old horse may have been deliberately starved

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in barren

producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation bony hills from which sheepherders eked out a meager existence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of bony Then stand or sit while bending forward at the waist, pinching the soft part of the nose below the bony portion on both sides for 10 minutes. — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2023 Riders follow the instructions of Redbeard (given via onboard audio), which include finding and counting gems along the shore, looking out for bony opponents in Skeleton Valley and participating in a seaworthy singalong near the finale. — Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2023 Santiago Calatrava is best known for bridges that leap and budgets that soar, for vast and bony white-steel structures that evoke high-tech ruins of the future and cause fiscal ruin in the present. — Curbed, 6 Dec. 2022 There are two types of fish, cartilaginous and bony. — Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2022 See All Example Sentences for bony

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bony

Adjective

Core fits across skinny, slim, bootcut and straight continue to make up most of the Levi’s bottoms business, which grew 6 percent in Q2.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
Instead of reaching for skinny jeans that’ll cling to your skin, opt for a relaxed style with more room for a breezy feel.

— Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

Besides, nobody was going to believe that humanity's nemesis hailed from Mars after the Viking landers had sent back photos of a barren, dead world.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 4 July 2026
Its location on barren, massive Fort Bliss land also allowed for a space that could hold up to 10,000 unauthorized immigrants at a time, more than any other facility in the country.

— Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 2026

Definition of barren

Adjective

The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.

— STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
Sprinkle the entire rug with a thin layer of baking soda and wait 20 minutes.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

These poems, spare and sometimes desolate, teem with harsh realities and unadorned truths.

— Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 7 July 2026
In its vision of a desolate America ruled by tyranny and militia, the United States becomes, in the eyes of those who live in its pre-industrial ruins, an idealized symbol of better times.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026

Definition of desolate

Adjective

There’s a second wine cellar that will hold an additional 2,000 bottles, and, just beyond the kitchen, an outdoor dining gallery is heated for comfort, with a slender fire feature that runs the length of the table.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
Small and slender, with an average length of about two feet, it is found in the mountainous areas of West Texas.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of slender

Adjective

This British drama series follows a woman named Emma over the course of more than six decades of her life, from the 1900s through the 1970s, working her way from impoverished maid to the world’s richest woman.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
Younger people are more likely to embrace socialism than older voters raised during the Cold War, for whom socialism may conjure images of an impoverished, freedom-less society like the former Communist bloc in Eastern Europe.

— Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of impoverished

Adjective

The filet mignon stays classy and restrained, while the dry-aged New York strip and ribeye lean deeper into the richness people come to steakhouses for in the first place.

— Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
The diaries taught me that even in lean times, Victorians still prioritized personal style and expression through their clothing.

— Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of lean

Adjective

Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.

— Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
On top of this, subterranean drip systems often clog with mineral deposits, sediment, and algae, which Nad warns may eventually require repairs or replacement of portions of the system, particularly in areas with hard water or poor filtration.

— Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 13 July 2026

Definition of poor

Browse Nearby Words

bon voyages

bony

boo

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“Bony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bony. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of bony

adjective

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