spindly

adjective

spin·​dly ˈspin(d)-lē How to pronounce spindly (audio)
ˈspin-dᵊl-ē
spindlier; spindliest
1
: of a disproportionately tall or long and thin appearance that often suggests physical weakness
spindly legs
2
: frail or flimsy in appearance or structure
a spindly tower

Examples of spindly in a Sentence

spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The morning drive was quiet and scenic through hills dotted with creosote bushes, spiky cacti and spindly ocotillo plants leading up to Safford, the hometown of a good friend who got the hell out of there. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 Gibbons may be known for swinging by their long, spindly arms, but when the mood strikes, these apes turn into dance-happy twinkletoes, according to a preprint posted online last month that’s scheduled to be published in Primates. Phie Jacobs, science.org, 17 Sep. 2024 The spindly vines and shaggy leaves of an overflowing vegetable garden? Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 8 Oct. 2024 In the images, my retinas were smoggy yellow orbs, threaded with red veins like the spindly branches of dead trees. Katie Gutierrez, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spindly 

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spindly was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near spindly

Cite this Entry

“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spindly. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

spindly

adjective
spin·​dly ˈspin-(d)lē How to pronounce spindly (audio)
-dᵊl-ē
spindlier; spindliest
: of a tall or long and thin appearance that often suggests physical weakness
spindly legs

More from Merriam-Webster on spindly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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