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
Keeping up with weight-bearing exercises will also benefit your bone health during a time when skeletal quality naturally declines (especially in women approaching or going through menopause), Olenick says.
—
Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
Paleontologists have found a 'Dragon price' dinosaur — which may be a missing link in the Tyrannosaurus family tree — and a dinosaur with its skeletal remains covered with remarkably long spiky bones that reach several feet.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
When the dig team found skeletal remains, construction halted.
—Lindsey Tramuta, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025
Authorities have identified the skeletal human remains found off a hiking trail in Nevada County earlier in 2025.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
Paleontologists have found a 'Dragon price' dinosaur — which may be a missing link in the Tyrannosaurus family tree — and a dinosaur with its skeletal remains covered with remarkably long spiky bones that reach several feet.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 28 Dec. 2025
When the dig team found skeletal remains, construction halted.
—Lindsey Tramuta, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025
Authorities have identified the skeletal human remains found off a hiking trail in Nevada County earlier in 2025.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeletal
Adjective
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During the conversation, Van Der Beek opened up about the overwhelming response to his gaunt appearance during September's Dawson's Creek reunion.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
19 Dec. 2025
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Van Der Beek's notably gaunt face sparked speculation about his condition amid his cancer battle.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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No one’s going to want to watch a haggard perimenopausal woman who’s badly lit.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
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Now, the film is a downright classic, centering on three haggard witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) who go on a hilarious misadventure while trying to remain young forever.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Skeletal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeletal. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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