gangly

adjective

ˈgaŋ-glē How to pronounce gangly (audio)
Definition of ganglynext
as in gaunt
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed a gangly teenager who was born to play varsity basketball

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 gangly In the first half, Jokic was minus-22 when the gangly center was on the court, continuing an alarming trend in the series. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026 What to know about wood storks These gangly birds are sometimes called flintheads or ironheads because of their distinctive heads and necks. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 War was coming, but for her father, Eberhard, then a gangly teenager, life in Hawaii was an endless summer. — David Martin, CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025 Almost immediately, the long legs, tail, and gangly frame didn’t match that breed. — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gangly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangly
  1. gaunt
  2. lanky
  3. skinny
  4. spindly
  5. rangy
  6. thin
  7. bony
Adjective
  • On the first day of the hearing, July 22, Salah Sarsour's brother, Mohammad Sarsour, testified that his brother appeared gaunt and dirty and complained of pain and inadequate medical care during his detention in an Israeli jail.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In Roman art, invidia is sometimes depicted as a gaunt Medusa-like figure with serpents for hair.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of gaunt
Adjective
  • Andrew Garfield, what an actor – tall, lanky, a little cooler than Toby, but such heart.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Also try trimming back the lanky shoots a few inches to encourage new growths with blooms.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
Definition of lanky
Adjective
  • Must-order side dishes include authentic, crisp and skinny French fries, redolent of truffle, and giant slices of roasted Brussels sprouts.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Maybe that’s why replacing all my skinny jeans with wide-leg styles never quite solved my own denim dilemma.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 31 July 2026
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • But, a year later, a bright-red humanoid—swinging a pair of spindly arms for balance—beat all twelve thousand human competitors and broke the world record.
    — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Yes, this is the fourth Spider-Man installment starring Tom Holland as the spindly hero, not including the other Marvel projects he’s popped in for.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of spindly
Adjective
  • Some appear impulsive, or impressively rangy, leaving earlier and traveling more, whereas others fail to leave altogether.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
  • In most sub packages, the Steelers will tap into Payton Wilson’s rangy coverage abilities by lining him up next to Queen.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of rangy
Adjective
  • The Orioles’ Taylor Ward has been at or near the top of the shopping list for every team seeking a righty-hitting outfield bat since the market for players like him may never have been thinner.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Improperly Drying Flammable Items Drying clothes stained with any type of chemical stains such as gasoline, paint thinner, or acetone is a hazard.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • 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
  • Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.
    — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
Definition of bony

Browse Nearby Words

gangling
gangly
gangrene
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gangly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangly. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on gangly

Nglish: Translation of gangly for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All