lanky

adjective

ˈlaŋ-kē How to pronounce lanky (audio)
Definition of lankynext
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 Swapping sunny California for the Austrian Alps (and Masha's lanky blonde locks for an icy bob), the season finds Masha overseeing a new batch of strangers eager to overcome their anxieties, traumas, and struggles back home. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025 There’s something about a lanky, underappreciated guard with a wonky shooting form and a clutch gene that Hoosiers appreciate. —Zak Keefer, New York Times, 21 May 2025 The long, lanky cornerback spent four years with Monmouth, playing in 37 games. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025 Jesus and Mahavira: lanky, lugubrious men, asking me to choose between them. —Tishani Doshi, New York Times, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lanky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lanky
  1. gaunt
  2. skinny
  3. spindly
  4. rangy
  5. thin
  6. gangly
  7. slender
Adjective
  • Recent photos of Bieber out and about show him looking gaunt and disappearing into his clothes.
    — Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
  • While Kahn was on the GLP-1 bandwagon earlier than most, her story has become the norm for those using weight loss drugs, finding their skin is looser and their face is more gaunt, creating a wealth of opportunity across the beauty ecosphere.
    — Emily Burns, Footwear News, 7 May 2025
Definition of gaunt
Adjective
  • Note skinnier carrots will cook faster than thicker ones.
    — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2025
  • Quarterback Zach Wilson had a nice throw to tight end Jalin Conyers on a skinny post in 7-on-7s.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • Planting sun-loving plants in a shady site usually results in plants with spindly growth and few, if any, flowers.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • But the tall, spindly lander face-planted in a crater near the moon's south pole and was declared dead within hours.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 June 2025
Definition of spindly
Adjective
  • At his best the rangy Siakam, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP against the Knicks, calls to mind a slightly smaller Kevin Durant.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 4 June 2025
  • The rangier types can be cut back each year to maintain an attractive form.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2025
Definition of rangy
Adjective
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 June 2025
  • For hours when her mother was at work at the accounting office, Lin crouched by the side of the thin stream, watching the fish.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • Some people hate nandina, but that’s the old varieties that get humongous and gangly.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
  • Piani did the right thing in casting Rutherford, whose physical embodiment of Agathe suggests a tall, gangly, striking woman trying not to be seen.
    — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Definition of gangly
Adjective
  • Taper: Taper candles are long, slender candles with a wider base and a narrow top.
    — Maya Handelsman, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2025
  • Consequently, the rollers became more and more narrow, until all that remained was a slender bar capped on both ends by large discs.
    — Kai James, The Conversation, 11 June 2025
Definition of slender

Browse Nearby Words

lank
lanky
lantern
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Cite this Entry

“Lanky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lanky. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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