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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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 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 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 See All Example Sentences for spindly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spindly

Adjective

The group last played a public show on July 18 in Valdosta, Georgia, following an uneven few months where Love appeared gaunt and sang in a raspy, diminished voice.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of gaunt

Adjective

Related Stories Arriving to Southwark Crown Court, Brand wore a grey suit, white shirt and grey skinny tie.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
On a Wednesday afternoon at Ralphs on Pico Boulevard, a skinny, six-foot-tall tower of sensors rolled through the aisles.

— Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

Still, Ginger warms to him, confiding that she’s been followed around the ceremony by two men — a lanky guy with a neck tattoo and a brawnier guy with a penchant for Werther’s Originals.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The lanky 20-year-old power forward is an elite puck transporter (98th percentile for zone entries), has outrageously quick hands and can break games open with his creativity and ability to beat defenders one-on-one.

— Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of lanky

Adjective

Bajaria may also have hit thin ice with Sarandos after the streamer won just 16 Primetime Emmy Awards this year — its worst showing since 2016 and down from 30 in 2025.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
It was designed with a column, sheath silhouette, with sequins, thin spaghetti straps and a midlength skirt.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of thin

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

Fields of solar panels blanket parts of Inner Mongolia, while the slender silhouettes of wind turbines spin above grazing sheep.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
This one was carved from a block of limestone and features a slender face with a long nose and a tiny, smiling mouth.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of spindly

adjective

Example Sentences

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