SPINDLY Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

spindly

adjective

ˈspin(d)-lē

Definition of spindly

as in gaunt

being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village

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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 the video, the musician trashes an apartment, gets out of a cop car, and runs through a field at golden hour with spindly pylons in the background. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2026 Without pruning, Russian sage can become spindly, leggy, and overgrown. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 16 June 2026 During that time, three astronauts tested the spindly lunar excursion module in Earth orbit. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 12 June 2026 As century upon century passes, the oceans freeze over and he is retrieved by what look like skinny, spindly aliens — not too unlike those briefly seen throughout pop culture, including in other Spielberg films. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for spindly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spindly

Adjective

The church’s punishment, however, delivered in front of the congregants, is an eerie ritual performed by a gaunt, severe visitor (Nicholas Hope).

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Brig is in the Upper Valais, a gaunt and conservative place where the inhabitants speak Walliser German, an Alpine dialect that many Swiss people find unintelligible.

— Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Definition of gaunt

Adjective

Core fits across skinny, slim, bootcut and straight continue to make up most of the Levi’s bottoms business, which grew 6 percent in Q2.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
Instead of reaching for skinny jeans that’ll cling to your skin, opt for a relaxed style with more room for a breezy feel.

— Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

Six days after the Yankees' first 15 batters couldn't get a hit off Bennett, the lanky left-hander retired the Angels' first 13 batters before Vaughn Grissom's fifth-inning single.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Six days after the Yankees’ first 15 batters couldn’t get a hit off Bennett, the lanky left-hander retired the Angels’ first 13 batters before Vaughn Grissom’s fifth-inning single.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of lanky

Adjective

The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.

— STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
Sprinkle the entire rug with a thin layer of baking soda and wait 20 minutes.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

Before Roosevelt, there was 6-foot-4 Abraham Lincoln, a gangly, spindly wrestler who is reputed to have lost only one fight over a dozen years.

— Bhumika Tharoor, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
But a new study published recently in Ecology and Evolution has compiled observations showing that the gangly arachnids (also called harvestmen) have an appetite for flesh—or at least for frog legs.

— Jake Buehler, Scientific American, 21 May 2026

Definition of gangly

Adjective

There’s a second wine cellar that will hold an additional 2,000 bottles, and, just beyond the kitchen, an outdoor dining gallery is heated for comfort, with a slender fire feature that runs the length of the table.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
Small and slender, with an average length of about two feet, it is found in the mountainous areas of West Texas.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of slender

Browse Nearby Words

spindling

spindly

spindrift

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“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spindly. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of spindly

adjective

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