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
Last week, skeletal remains found on New Jersey beaches were identified as those of a 19th-century schooner captain.
—
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 29 May 2025
The skeletal remains of a 53-year-old north Charlotte man who went missing in 2016 were found in a Davidson County scrapyard on May 14, police said Wednesday.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
The beetles are tiny enough — just a few millimeters long — to crawl into the recesses of the smallest animals and nibble away without affecting delicate skeletal structures, said Scott Schaefer, who oversees the museum’s collection of more than 30 million specimens and objects.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 13 May 2025
The divers were able to recover Schepers’ vehicle while keeping the structure intact, allowing investigators to use dental records to identify her skeletal remains.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 29 May 2025
The skeletal remains of a 53-year-old north Charlotte man who went missing in 2016 were found in a Davidson County scrapyard on May 14, police said Wednesday.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
The beetles are tiny enough — just a few millimeters long — to crawl into the recesses of the smallest animals and nibble away without affecting delicate skeletal structures, said Scott Schaefer, who oversees the museum’s collection of more than 30 million specimens and objects.
—Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 13 May 2025
The divers were able to recover Schepers’ vehicle while keeping the structure intact, allowing investigators to use dental records to identify her skeletal remains.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for skeletal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeletal
Adjective
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In addition to a very gaunt appearance, other symptoms include: Extreme weakness Thin, dry skin with excess skin folds due to loss of fat Sparse, brittle hair that can be easily plucked out 8.—
Jonathan Purtell,
Verywell Health,
13 June 2025
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Recent photos of Bieber out and about show him looking gaunt and disappearing into his clothes.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 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 28 Jun. 2025.
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