Synonyms of skinny

skinny 1 of 2

adjective

ˈski-nē 

1

as in thin

being of less than usual width

the tree swing was supported only by a couple of skinny branches

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thin
• slender
• narrow
• slim
• fine
• tight
• elongated
• paper-thin
• needlelike
• close
• linear
• ultrathin
• spare
• elongate
• slim-jim
• condensed
• lanky
• compressed
• tightened
• willowy
• squeezed
• hairline
• spindly
• twiggy
• stringy
• constricted
• attenuated
• wispy
• reedy
• rangy
• contracted
• lank
• stalky
• attenuate
• bottleneck
• shoestring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fat
• wide
• broad
• thick
• stocky
• stumpy
• chunky
• squat
• thickset
• bulky
• massive
• voluminous
• thickish
• widish

2

as in slender

having a noticeably small amount of body fat

her grandmother was always insisting that she was too skinny and never tired of trying to force more food on her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• thin
• slender
• bony
• lean
• slim
• gaunt
• angular
• svelte
• skeletal
• boney
• lithe
• trim
• fatless
• haggard
• scrawny
• spare
• willowy
• wiry
• lanky
• anorexic
• spindly
• stringy
• twiggy
• weedy
• rawboned
• sinewy
• emaciated
• scraggy
• reedy
• lank
• sylphlike
• waspish
• rangy
• anorectic
• wizened
• clean-limbed
• puny
• meagre
• pinched
• meager
• cadaverous
• anoretic
• slight
• wasted
• spindling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• chubby
• fat
• overweight
• obese
• plump
• corpulent
• rotund
• thick
• tubby
• gross
• stocky
• bulky
• portly
• fleshy
• heavy
• chunky
• beefy
• stout
• heavyset
• thickset
• burly
• pudgy
• weighty
• husky
• stubby
• brawny
• dumpy
• squat
• paunchy
• flabby
• potbellied
• soft
• buxom
• full
• round
• roly-poly
• hippy
• zaftig
• zoftig

skinny

2 of 2

noun

slang

as in scoop

information not generally available to the public

a TV show that offers all the skinny on Tinseltown and the stars that light it up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scoop
• tip
• rumor
• dope
• book
• information
• poop
• inside
• news
• lowdown
• 411
• story
• dish
• gossip
• word
• dirt
• hint
• pointer
• intelligence
• tidings

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ancient history
• open secret

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective skinny contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of skinny are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken

skinny street urchins

When is gaunt a more appropriate choice than skinny?

The meanings of gaunt and skinny largely overlap; however, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is it sensible to use lank instead of skinny?

While the synonyms lank and skinny are close in meaning, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

Where would lanky be a reasonable alternative to skinny?

In some situations, the words lanky and skinny are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When can lean be used instead of skinny?

While in some cases nearly identical to skinny, lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When might rawboned be a better fit than skinny?

The synonyms rawboned and skinny are sometimes interchangeable, but rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

When could spare be used to replace skinny?

The words spare and skinny are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of skinny

Adjective

Pale, skinny women in punkish black mingled comfortably with beefy men in rugged work clothes. —Tamar Jacoby, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Look at skinny jeans and how long those took to begin selling. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025

Noun

Denim trends have shifted away from rigid skinnies and toward ease, fluidity, and freedom. —Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2025

Similarly versatile, find Frame’s skinny—yes, skinny!—style or even Cos’s barrel-leg pair. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2025