as in gaunt
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed
spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spindly
When growing basil indoors on a sunny windowsill, give pots a quarter turn weekly to expose all sides to the sun and ensure seedlings won't be pale and spindly.
—
Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025
Tomatoes stressed by lack of sunlight have spindly, weak stems and minimal fruit.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025
Grand Tours cater to spindly, ultralight cyclists who can ascend 3,000-foot mountain passes for days on end.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Okay, okay — even though my spindly frame and past-his-prime age both immediately disqualify me from membership in this band of bodacious biceps, I am intrigued.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spindly
Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025
Tomatoes stressed by lack of sunlight have spindly, weak stems and minimal fruit.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025
Grand Tours cater to spindly, ultralight cyclists who can ascend 3,000-foot mountain passes for days on end.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Okay, okay — even though my spindly frame and past-his-prime age both immediately disqualify me from membership in this band of bodacious biceps, I am intrigued.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spindly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spindly
Adjective
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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
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While Kahn was on the GLP-1 bandwagon earlier than most, her story has become the norm for those using weight loss drugs, finding their skin is looser and their face is more gaunt, creating a wealth of opportunity across the beauty ecosphere.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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The teens proceeded to go skinny dipping, and upon emerging from the water, Abdela was freezing.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Dyson has officially unveiled its skinniest vacuum yet: the new PencilVac, which measures just 38mm in diameter.—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The long, lanky cornerback spent four years with Monmouth, playing in 37 games.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2025
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Jesus and Mahavira: lanky, lugubrious men, asking me to choose between them.—
Tishani Doshi,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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While Paul is still remarkably good for someone at his experience level, the novelty of his act has been wearing thin.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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And was there ever, complete with Angus Young, knobby knees and thin ankles, scampering, duck-walking and hopping from place to place.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
3 Nov. 2023
Adjective
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Piani did the right thing in casting Rutherford, whose physical embodiment of Agathe suggests a tall, gangly, striking woman trying not to be seen.—
Michael Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2025
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Light pruning results in a gangly, unkempt plant by midsummer.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Courtesy of Dyson For such a slender vacuum, Dyson managed to squeeze in a ton of noteworthy features.—
Brenda Stolyar,
Wired News,
22 May 2025
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In 2016, the Dodgers sent pitcher Zach Lee to the Pacific Northwest in return for the slender middle infielder.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spindly. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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