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
Once a spindly but speedy left midfielder, the 25-year-old Ahmed has developed into a tactically astute and fearless attacking player who has adapted to the physical English Championship with Norwich City far quicker than expected.
—
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Remove weak, spindly, or overcrowded stems so the honeysuckle will use its energy to produce strong, flower-producing stems.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
In Low Light Don't plant your tomatoes in a shady spot, where the plants will grow spindly and set very little fruit.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
There dense clouds of dust and spindly filaments of cold molecular gas, the basic matter from which stars form, encircle the galaxy’s central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spindly
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Remove weak, spindly, or overcrowded stems so the honeysuckle will use its energy to produce strong, flower-producing stems.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
In Low Light Don't plant your tomatoes in a shady spot, where the plants will grow spindly and set very little fruit.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026
There dense clouds of dust and spindly filaments of cold molecular gas, the basic matter from which stars form, encircle the galaxy’s central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spindly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spindly
Adjective
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In the courtroom, Alfortish’s face looked gaunt after spending roughly a year in prison, and his hair, thinning now, had gone white.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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We’re introduced to its uncanny backdrop through the eyes of protagonist Heinrich, or Hein (Paul Boche), a gaunt young man who returns by boat after 14 years away.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Originally introduced in 2012, the concept was a bestseller between 2014 and 2019 while skinny jeans were still on trend.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
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And skinny labeling, which amounts to a carve-out tactic, is one way that Congress attempted to foster more competition and benefit consumers.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The lanky right-hander hasn’t won since beating the Chicago White Sox 14-2 on Opening Day, a span of five starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
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The lanky right-hander hasn't won since beating the Chicago White Sox 14-2 on Opening Day, a span of five starts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These thin stainless steel cake testers are not only cheap to replace but also widely available.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
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That, along with the March trade that sent Sam Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres, would leave them painfully thin down the middle, with little center help coming up through the system.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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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In the first half, Jokic was minus-22 when the gangly center was on the court, continuing an alarming trend in the series.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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What to know about wood storks These gangly birds are sometimes called flintheads or ironheads because of their distinctive heads and necks.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For a speedy dinner chock-full of slender haricot verts, make this Gochujang Chicken Stir-Fry.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
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Jackson DeCosta, a tall and slender teenager with a metabolism faster than Lamar Jackson’s 40 time, had no such worries during a long Saturday in the draft room, according to his father.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spindly. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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