LANKY Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'lanky' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lanky are gaunt , lank , lean , rawboned , scrawny , skinny , and spare . While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness. // a lanky youth, all arms and legs

Q: When can 'gaunt' be used instead of 'lanky'?

Although the words gaunt and lanky have much in common, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering. // a prisoner's gaunt face

Q: When is 'lank' a more appropriate choice than 'lanky'?

The synonyms lank and lanky are sometimes interchangeable, but lank implies tallness as well as leanness. // the lank legs of the heron

Q: When would 'lean' be a good substitute for 'lanky'?

The words lean and lanky can be used in similar contexts, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours. // a lean racehorse

Q: When could 'rawboned' be used to replace 'lanky'?

While in some cases nearly identical to lanky , rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment. // a rawboned farmer

Q: How do 'scrawny' and 'skinny' relate to one another, in the sense of 'lanky'?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality. // a scrawny chicken // skinny street urchins

Q: Where would 'spare' be a reasonable alternative to 'lanky'?

The meanings of spare and lanky largely overlap; however, spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise. // the gymnast's spare figure

lanky

adjective

ˈlaŋ-kē

Definition of lanky next

as in gaunt

being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed the lanky basketball star was great at slam-dunking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective lanky contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lanky are gaunt, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, skinny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When can gaunt be used instead of lanky?

Although the words gaunt and lanky have much in common, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is lank a more appropriate choice than lanky?

The synonyms lank and lanky are sometimes interchangeable, but lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When would lean be a good substitute for lanky?

The words lean and lanky can be used in similar contexts, but lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When could rawboned be used to replace lanky?

While in some cases nearly identical to lanky, rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of lanky?

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

a scrawny chicken

skinny street urchins

Where would spare be a reasonable alternative to lanky?

The meanings of spare and lanky largely overlap; however, spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

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 lanky In the video, a lanky kid is smoothly fielding balls on a dirt infield, then throwing hard strikes from the mound, and then lacing line drives from the left-handed batter’s box. —

Dan Freedman, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 Their common name is derived from their prehensile tails, some as long as three feet, which the animals use along with their disproportionately lanky limbs to grasp branches and other objects. —

Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Jan. 2025 There might have been a little fear of a 6-6 lanky kid who was looking pretty solid. —

James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025 Give the Plant a Trim In summer poinsettias grow tall and lanky by nature. —

Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lanky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lanky

Adjective

The three male hostages released last Saturday appeared gaunt and frail, and Israelis reacted with anger and horror at their appearance.

— Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 10 Feb. 2025
Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy appeared gaunt and frail as they were paraded by the militants on a makeshift stage in Gaza before they were handed over to the Red Cross.

— Michael Rios, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025