Definition of lankynext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lanky contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lanky are gaunt, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, skinny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When can gaunt be used instead of lanky?

Although the words gaunt and lanky have much in common, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is lank a more appropriate choice than lanky?

The synonyms lank and lanky are sometimes interchangeable, but lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When would lean be a good substitute for lanky?

The words lean and lanky can be used in similar contexts, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When could rawboned be used to replace lanky?

While in some cases nearly identical to lanky, rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of lanky?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken
skinny street urchins

Where would spare be a reasonable alternative to lanky?

The meanings of spare and lanky largely overlap; however, spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

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 lanky It might be made of the same substance, evolving into a fleshy body but retaining the same lanky, distorted proportions. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 Chris Brazzell, the team’s third-round pick, is a long, lanky wideout with notable downfield speed. Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026 In person, Turner was tall, lanky and loud. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 May 2026 Use a dwarf variety of this typically tall annual to avoid lanky flowers that could fall over. Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lanky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lanky
Adjective
  • The church’s punishment, however, delivered in front of the congregants, is an eerie ritual performed by a gaunt, severe visitor (Nicholas Hope).
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Brig is in the Upper Valais, a gaunt and conservative place where the inhabitants speak Walliser German, an Alpine dialect that many Swiss people find unintelligible.
    Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of sticking to styles that squeeze your legs in a skinny-jean kind of way, opt for looser, baggier silhouettes like these from Levi’s.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026
  • Already existing as a divisive pick, skinny jeans are taking a back seat this summer.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • Oh no, Armand’s got his spindly roots in the band!
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • In the video, the musician trashes an apartment, gets out of a cop car, and runs through a field at golden hour with spindly pylons in the background.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • His register has the ability to do justice to Mercury’s legendary vocals, which were rangy yet specific.
    David John Chávez, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • Wideman, one of our more prolific and fascinating novelists, wrote a rangy memoir of his own court time back in 2003.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
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.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026
  • Tree was recognizable for his bright fashion, mullet haircut with prominent bangs, thin mustache and encouraging outlook.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • Before Roosevelt, there was 6-foot-4 Abraham Lincoln, a gangly, spindly wrestler who is reputed to have lost only one fight over a dozen years.
    Bhumika Tharoor, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
  • Often called a spider flower or grandfather's whiskers, the tall, gangly plant has spidery pink, purple, or white flowers above seed pods that split open late in the summer.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • On the Fourth of July, New York Harbor will fill with white canvas and slender hulls.
    Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 June 2026
  • This is a comfortable, sleek set of ankle weight cuffs, ideal for those with smaller, more slender ankles.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lanky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lanky. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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