spindly

adjective

ˈspin(d)-lē How to pronounce spindly (audio)
Definition of spindlynext
as in gaunt
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 spindly This one, by Adrián Xuana (San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca), is a towering, spindly incarnation of a xoloitzcuintli, those hairless Mexican dogs believed to guide spirits through the underworld. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 July 2026 The result is a bulbous body covered in scraggly fur atop four spindly legs, a stout head and little to no neck. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 25 July 2026 Across this paradise the finch-like honeycreeper flits, feeding off the red spindly flowers of the evergreen ‘ōhi‘a lehua tree. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 Too few nutrients, or not enough fertilizer, for petunias looks like leggy, spindly growth, pale color, few or no blooms, and slow growth. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spindly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spindly
  1. gaunt
  2. skinny
  3. lanky
  4. thin
  5. bony
  6. gangly
  7. slender
Adjective
  • Apple was widely criticized in the late 2000s for not volunteering more information about Jobs’ health, especially as concerns about his gaunt appearance battered the company’s shares.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of gaunt
Adjective
  • Her humdrum life gives way to beach bonfires at sunset (lensed by Tudor Vladimir Panduru and Fabian Gamper in stunning dusky blues and pinks) and skinny-dipping in the river.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • These ankle-length skinny jeans come in a dark wash similar to the actress’s, as well as seven other shades.
    — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • Something happened when the Clippers included a lanky rookie point guard named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a trade for Paul George.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • On a recent afternoon, the lanky, mustachioed Zucker, wearing a T-shirt, ballcap and small hoop earrings, bears little resemblance to his comic alter ego who sports a tattered suit with gag props stuffed in every pocket.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of lanky
Adjective
  • Deposition systems add extremely thin layers of material onto a silicon wafer.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • That’s the thin line between moving on to play for an NFC championship and trudging into the heaviest first stage of the offseason.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of thin
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
Definition of bony
Adjective
  • Some 17-year-olds are awkward, gangly teens who tend to do or say dumb things.
    — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
  • Some people hate nandina, but that’s the old varieties that get humongous and gangly.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
Definition of gangly
Adjective
  • Masters, tall and slender, forded the frigid waist-deep water to wake up his father and convince the 63-year-old to evacuate.
    — Ren Larson, ProPublica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The shoes paired with the Dolce & Gabbana dress featured a slender strap across the toes and curved straps around the top of the foot and ankle forming a diamond with concave sides.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of slender

Browse Nearby Words

spindling
spindly
spindrift
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Cite this Entry

“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spindly. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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