Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

lank

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of lank

not stiff in structure
  • right after a shower, her lank hair hung down to her shoulders
Synonyms of lank

droopy, flaccid, floppy, limp, yielding
Words Related to lank

flabby, mushy, semisoft, soft, squashy, squishy

delicate, flimsy, insubstantial

elastic, flexible, lax, loose, pliant, relaxed, resilient, springy, stretchy, supple
Near Antonyms of lank

firm, hard, indurated, solid, sound, strong

brittle, crisp

compact, dense, substantial
Antonyms of lank

inflexible, resilient, rigid, stiff, sturdy, tense

Synonym Discussion of lank

lean, spare, lank, lanky, gaunt, rawboned, scrawny, skinny mean thin because of an absence of excess flesh. lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.
    • a lean racehorse
spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.
    • the gymnast's spare figure
lank implies tallness as well as leanness.
    • the lank legs of the heron
lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.
    • a lanky youth, all arms and legs
gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.
    • a prisoner's gaunt face
rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.
    • a rawboned farmer
scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.
    • a scrawny chicken
    • skinny street urchins

Learn More about lank

  1. See words that rhyme with lank Dictionary: Definition of lank Spanish Central: Translation of lank Nglish: Translation of lank for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up lank? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

decoct

Listen to the pronounciation of decoct

to boil down or concentrate

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. whitewash Emanuel speaks on dropped charges

  2. exonerate Barr summarizes Mueller report

  3. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games