rawboned

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rawboned contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rawboned are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, scrawny, skinny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

When might gaunt be a better fit than rawboned?

While the synonyms gaunt and rawboned are close in meaning, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is it sensible to use lank instead of rawboned?

The words lank and rawboned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When can lanky be used instead of rawboned?

In some situations, the words lanky and rawboned are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When could lean be used to replace rawboned?

Although the words lean and rawboned have much in common, lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

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

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

a scrawny chicken
skinny street urchins

When is spare a more appropriate choice than rawboned?

While in some cases nearly identical to rawboned, 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 rawboned Mitsouko softened Chypre’s rawboned extremes, imparting a creamy peach glow to the whole. Noy Thrupkaew, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2021 Kirschling, a rawboned young man from Wisconsin, had written a master’s thesis at Columbia about long-term productivity decline in New York City’s mass transit. William Finnegan, The New Yorker, 2 July 2018 Like so many in Lincoln Heights, this tiny, rawboned 89-year-old woman had lived through a time of gang violence, high crime and police oppression. Brittny Mejia, Joe Mozingo, www.latimes.com, 3 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rawboned
Adjective
  • That’s because the vehicle pairs a brash and angular design with next-level performance.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
  • These angular aviators will bring out the best in your facial features while shading your eyes from bright rays.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The top-floor primary suite faces the water with a fireplace, a sitting area that spills onto a slender balcony, and a spectacular bathroom that turns bathing and grooming into a ceremony.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
  • For a modern or narrow doorway, tall, slender plants elongate the entry.
    Lauren Jones, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, LinkedIn is flooded with postings of lean, 10-person teams achieving $10+ million in ARR for their agentic AI business.
    Mark Francis, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Daily life here tends to be leaner, quieter, and less consumption-driven.
    Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For a cozy, preppy look for fall, for example, pair your favorite brown riding boots with black leggings or skinny jeans and a sweater.
    Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Marguerite Another skinny silhouette, just a little longer.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
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
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.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Pair the duo with fairy lights, a thin linen runner, and more faux foliage to create a stunning seasonal scene.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rawboned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rawboned. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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