lanky

adjective

ˈlaŋ-kē 

lankier; lankiest

: ungracefully tall and thin

lankily

ˈlaŋ-kə-lē 

adverb

lankiness

ˈlaŋ-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• gangling
• gangly
• rangy
• spindling
• spindly

Choose the Right Synonym for lanky

lean, spare, lank, lanky, gaunt, rawboned, scrawny, skinny mean thin because of an absence of excess flesh.

lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken

skinny street urchins

Examples of lanky in a Sentence

the lanky basketball star was great at slam-dunking

Recent Examples on the Web

In the middle is Toledo, 32, lanky and thoughtful as always, with an N95 mask and long hair hiding much of his face. —Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025

Porter has a similar lanky stature to Douglas, and Douglas is eager to teach, giving Porter a chance to learn a lot from Douglas in one year together. —Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025

Tall, lanky corners are preferred by both Morgan and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 23 Jan. 2025

By Faith Karimi | CNN Irene Silverman was suspicious of the lanky young man renting an apartment in her limestone townhome in New York City. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1818, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lanky

• cranky
• hanky
• yankee

Kids Definition

lanky

adjective

ˈlaŋ-kē 

lankier; lankiest

: being tall, thin, and usually loose-jointed

a lanky teenager

lankily

-kə-lē 

adverb

lankiness

-kē-nəs 

noun