skeleton

noun

ˈske-lə-tən How to pronounce skeleton (audio)
Definition of skeletonnext
as in structure
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form Native Americans covered the skeletons of their wigwams with bark, rush mats, or hides

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 skeleton Pick a grid skeleton other people have already used with some success. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2026 Meanwhile, children faced countless diseases like rickets, which prevents developing skeletons from adequately mineralizing. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Nov. 2026 Movement and nutrition support the skeleton Bones respond to the forces placed on them. — Priya Bhardwaj, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026 But unlike the slender fossils typically associated with these ancient animals, this one had a remarkably thick internal skeleton. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for skeleton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skeleton
  1. structure
  2. framework
  3. architecture
Noun
  • FinFET transistors FinFETs are transistors with narrow silicon channels shaped like upright fins rather than flat structures.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • In other cases the cells may be cultivated in a bioreactor, in which they are suspended and kept in motion; constant spinning encourages the cells to self-organize into multilayered, three-dimensional structures.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of structure
Noun
  • Within this framework, advanced radar systems serve as a critical component by providing information about potential aerial activity.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • National governments will already be looking at their aviation authority regulations and frameworks and there will be discussions at the European and global level, John Edwards, senior consultant at Gates Aviation in London, said by phone.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of framework
Noun
  • Lockheed Martin is developing a new communications architecture with S-band and X-band capabilities.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The backstory Hotel Nikko San Francisco opened in 1987 under the ownership of Takenaka Corporation, one of Japan’s largest architecture and engineering firms, and is part of the Okura Nikko Hotels portfolio.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of architecture

Browse Nearby Words

skeletal
skeleton
skeletons
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skeleton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skeleton. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on skeleton

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about skeleton

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of defer

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All