as in gaunt
suffering extreme weight loss as a result of hunger or disease
the stray kitten's skeletal body was pitiful to look at
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Recent Examples of skeletal
His skeletal remains were found on a beach in Washington state.
—
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Then, in May 2024, a fisherman found skeletal remains in a frozen grave near a river at the Deer Creek Campground in Bailey.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Maintaining strength, along with skeletal longevity, is a protective mechanism that can help women stay mobile and independent.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 Mar. 2026
In this new study, researchers analyzed the DNA from 216 canid skeletal remains.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Then, in May 2024, a fisherman found skeletal remains in a frozen grave near a river at the Deer Creek Campground in Bailey.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Maintaining strength, along with skeletal longevity, is a protective mechanism that can help women stay mobile and independent.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 27 Mar. 2026
In this new study, researchers analyzed the DNA from 216 canid skeletal remains.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeletal
Adjective
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As Alpha waits for the results of blood tests, she is startled by the sudden appearance of a gaunt, jittery stranger in their apartment.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Rocking back and forth nervously during a television appearance, a haggard-looking Diaz-Canel acknowledged the same talks, which his government had denied were taking place just days before.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
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Wrexham, meanwhile, was near the bottom, struggling in England’s lowest division under a haggard fan-ownership group keeping it on life support.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skeletal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeletal. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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