gangly

adjective

gan·​gly ˈgaŋ-glē 

ganglier; gangliest

1

a

: tall and thin and moving with a loose-jointed awkwardness : lanky, gangling

It is a cool night in San Jose, and gangly teenagers stream toward the Gunderson gym.

—Chris Ballard

b

: long and thin

His linen suit was appropriately rumpled … and his gangly legs were jacked up against the glove box, as he resisted suggestions to slide his seat back.

—Cara Buckley

2

of a plant : having a tall and sparse appearance : lacking fullness

These tall (to 8 feet), sometimes gangly shrubs bear cup-shaped, strong-scented flowers.

—Michael MacCaskey

Synonyms

• gangling
• lanky
• rangy
• spindling
• spindly

Examples of gangly in a Sentence

a gangly teenager who was born to play varsity basketball

Recent Examples on the Web

The reasons are partly anthropomorphic — these large, gangly birds are fiercely protective of their young, and the fathers stay behind to rear the chicks after the mothers fly on to central Mexico or some other wintering grounds. —Krista Stevens, Longreads, 8 July 2024

Dern is volcanic, her movements childlike and untamed in their gangly abrasiveness. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 8 May 2024

So named for his gangly appearance by teammates at Miami, the Hall of Fame linebacker spent one all-pro season with the Packers in 1974. —Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2024

Eventually, the group’s number is reduced to one: a gangly, smart-mouthed junior named Angus Tully, played by newcomer Dominic Sessa in an exceptionally impressive debut. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

probably from gangl(ing) + -y entry 1

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

gangly

adjective

gan·​gly ˈgaŋ-glē 

ganglier; gangliest

: loosely and awkwardly built : lanky