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skinny

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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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 skinny
Adjective
The scarf collage tops and skinny pants from Celine. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025 The tall, skinny window displays a list of recent activities, such as uploading and downloading files. PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
Like the Oscar winner before him, who went from American Psycho fit to The Machinist skinny by eating 200 calories a day, Butler has taken on a range of parts that push his body to the limits ever since his breakout role in Elvis. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2025 Even if your lime green leopard print skinnies and Obey tees are buried deep in the depths of your closet, stepping back through that threshold might uncover more than your old, tacky but favorite outfits. Alexandra Jane, Essence, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for skinny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skinny
Adjective
  • The researchers overcame traditional size limitations by embedding thin but powerful actuators that respond to heat and pressure.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • France’s government survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Thursday by a thin margin, giving the country a brief respite from intense political turmoil before what is expected to be another brutal battle over its budget.
    Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The slender aspens unfurl golden banners against the dark wall of evergreens.
    Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The shoes featured a scalloped toe box in a pale pink hue, offset by gold slingback straps and slender matching heels.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Reporters would infiltrate and ingratiate in search of scoops.
    Jon Landau, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Banijay has already made moves in this area this week, acquiring control of the creator-skewed agency Worktitel, per our earlier scoop.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • On closer inspection, Capital Economics said Beijing’s policy is actually narrower in scope than initially feared.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The Hornbein and Japanese Couloirs are defined by their steep, icy, and narrow conditions and the high risk of avalanches.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Lift your hips off the ground and place a block underneath your sacrum, the widest, boniest part of your pelvis.
    Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024
  • Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.
    Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
Noun
  • To cope with the effects of daylight saving, Granger has tips to make the workplace more pleasant.
    Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Porowski was also kind enough to share some of his favorite holiday hosting gifts and preparation tips for meals.
    Brittany Loggins, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Much of this momentum traces back to China’s DeepSeek, whose lean, low-cost models upended industry assumptions at the beginning of this year and kicked off a race to make AI smaller, faster, and smarter.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Atkins, who joined Dhar Mann Studios in 2024 and previously headed MTV as well as worked as chief digital officer at Discovery, said the banner has also thrived by having lean operations.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There are also ongoing rumors that former WWE star, Chris Jericho, could make his return after his AEW contract ends, and also have a retirement tour next year.
    Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The comments come amid longtime rumors of a feud between the beauty moguls, which stems from Gomez’s past romance with Hailey’s now-husband Justin Bieber.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Skinny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skinny. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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