as in gaunt
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed
a gangly teenager who was born to play varsity basketball
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gangly
The gangly frame that should not be able to stand, propped up by rods unseen in the dark.
—
Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 30 Oct. 2025
An injured knee sidelined Misiorowski for the season, but Lallemand still considered the gangly teenager part of the team.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Between them, the gangly mods kept alive the fading tradition of feuding musical geniuses, a path that Paul McCartney and John Lennon had paved before them.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Indeed, at 6-foot-5 but hiding it under a gangly posture, the Australian star can seem younger than his 28 years.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangly
Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 30 Oct. 2025
An injured knee sidelined Misiorowski for the season, but Lallemand still considered the gangly teenager part of the team.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Between them, the gangly mods kept alive the fading tradition of feuding musical geniuses, a path that Paul McCartney and John Lennon had paved before them.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Indeed, at 6-foot-5 but hiding it under a gangly posture, the Australian star can seem younger than his 28 years.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gangly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangly
Adjective
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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
-
Nitibhon, a Thai supermodel, plays her tycoon as comically drab, keeping her gaunt cheeks slack to emphasize her character’s hollowness.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The lanky, athletic Raiders (who have six players who are 6-foot-3 or taller) completely shut down Cherry Creek in the Great 8 by allowing only 12 first-half points.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
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Nansen, tall, lanky, and sporting neon Vuarnet shades, greets me with a firm handshake.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For a simple but stylish outfit, wear black skinny jeans with a relaxed T-shirt, a cardigan sweater, and loafers.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
17 Mar. 2026
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The fourth suspect wore a black ski mask, a black hooded sweatshirt, blue skinny jeans and white gym shoes.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Once a spindly but speedy left midfielder, the 25-year-old Ahmed has developed into a tactically astute and fearless attacking player who has adapted to the physical English Championship with Norwich City far quicker than expected.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Remove weak, spindly, or overcrowded stems so the honeysuckle will use its energy to produce strong, flower-producing stems.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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New York shot just 5 of 21 from 3-point territory in the first half, and the rangy Leons and Payton II were pests in the zone and used their long wingspan to create problems.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Larson, who grew up on a farm in North Dakota, has a rangy frame and a folksy manner.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
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Loose Flashings Flashings are thin materials—typically made from metals like aluminum or copper—that are installed at joints and penetrations on roofs and walls including chimneys, valleys, windows, and vents.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Lift your hips off the ground and place a block underneath your sacrum, the widest, boniest part of your pelvis.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
16 Oct. 2024
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Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
3 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Gangly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangly. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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