spindly
adjective
spin·dly
ˈspin(d)-lē 
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
In a spare dining room with concrete ceilings and spindly pendant lights, chef-owners Maria Teresa Gallina and Nicolas Martinez serve only what excites them most.
—
The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Light pruning can be done again in the fall to remove spindly branches that could break under snow or ice.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025
Bare, blackened trees with pointed, spindly limbs and black soil that felt strange underfoot, both spongy and brittle.
—River Selby
august 25, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
Signs your plants need attention include pale foliage, spindly new growth, and fewer new flowers.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spindly
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The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Light pruning can be done again in the fall to remove spindly branches that could break under snow or ice.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025
Bare, blackened trees with pointed, spindly limbs and black soil that felt strange underfoot, both spongy and brittle.
—River Selby
august 25, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
Signs your plants need attention include pale foliage, spindly new growth, and fewer new flowers.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spindly
Cite this Entry
“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spindly. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spindly
adjective
spin·dly
ˈspin-(d)lē
-dᵊl-ē
spindlier; spindliest
: of a tall or long and thin appearance that often suggests physical weakness
spindly legs
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