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 In this splendid and very hot outfit, completed with spindly heeled sandals, Allie reluctantly toddles off into the night to join her glimmering, mini-skirted sisters. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 But, a year later, a bright-red humanoid—swinging a pair of spindly arms for balance—beat all twelve thousand human competitors and broke the world record. — Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Yes, this is the fourth Spider-Man installment starring Tom Holland as the spindly hero, not including the other Marvel projects he’s popped in for. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 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 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
  • Throughout late 2025, Beach Boys fans expressed increasing alarm with Love’s increasingly gaunt appearance and raspy singing voice.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2026
  • This year, a gaunt, ravenous stranger stumbles out of the dark carrying something that eats its hosts from the inside out.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of gaunt
Adjective
  • Here are five ways to make ’70s boho blouses and skinny jeans feel like a fashion decision worth making again.
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 7 Nov. 2026
  • This fall, that means no skinny jeans, chunky dad sneakers, bags with logos, or all-black outfits.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • Now is a good time to shorten long, lanky canes that can whip around in Santa Ana and winter winds.
    — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • For two weeks, the lanky forward has sat and watched as the Clippers have let winnable games slip away in the final minutes.
    — Janis Carr, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of lanky
Adjective
  • Its thin-film cadmium-telluride technology doesn't rely on the silicon supply chain.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In past years, people have repurposed the thin plastic from the signs to make school projects, as art canvases, and even model airplanes.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 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
  • The material is reimagined as a series of gangly, tubular legs that dangle around a pedestal in the center of the CVA gallery on Santa Fe Drive.
    — Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2026
  • That’s just one aspect of No One’s Disciple, mind you — Dunn and McFadyen may be lucky enough to capture some truly once-in-a-lifetime sessions, but the focus remains on chronicling Peart’s arc from gangly Hamilton kid to worldly rock god.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of gangly
Adjective
  • Tough, hardy junipers come in many useful sizes and shapes, from trailing junipers that can work as ground covers to tall, slender trees.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The metal legs and sinuous iron springs make this chair sturdy, yet a conveniently slender perch.
    — Brittany VanDerBill, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of slender

Browse Nearby Words

spindling
spindly
spindrift
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spindly. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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