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
As the architect of hell, Kuang lays the landscape out in great detail, from vast dunes to skeletal animals made only of bones held together with chalk.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
The skeletal remains of missing Valley Center woman have been found buried on the grounds of her 20-acre ranch, sheriff’s investigators said Thursday.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The general assumption was instead that the swamp had been devoured to its skeletal minimum and that the rats had migrated farther north, where there was better eating to be had.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
For many others that means spooky season, skeletal decor and the Cthulhu Mythos.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
The skeletal remains of missing Valley Center woman have been found buried on the grounds of her 20-acre ranch, sheriff’s investigators said Thursday.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The general assumption was instead that the swamp had been devoured to its skeletal minimum and that the rats had migrated farther north, where there was better eating to be had.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
For many others that means spooky season, skeletal decor and the Cthulhu Mythos.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeletal
Adjective
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The apparently recent footage showed two hostages -- Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel -- looking gaunt and exhausted while being driven around Gaza City.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
7 Sep. 2025
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Then a gaunt old girl lit out over the ridge, and the others broke and followed.—
Fred C. Mercer,
Outdoor Life,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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When Claire first shows up, Sweeney’s haggard appearance is doubly shocking for anyone who’s seen how radiant the star looks in most roles.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 June 2025
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Weinstein often looked haggard and out of it — unshaven, mouth ajar, eyes bleary.—
Phoebe Eaton,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skeletal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeletal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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