skinny 1 of 2

adjective

ˈski-nē How to pronounce skinny (audio)
Definition of skinnynext
1
as in thin
being of less than usual width the tree swing was supported only by a couple of skinny branches

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slender
having a noticeably small amount of body fat her grandmother was always insisting that she was too skinny and never tired of trying to force more food on her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

skinny

2 of 2

noun

slang
as in scoop
information not generally available to the public a TV show that offers all the skinny on Tinseltown and the stars that light it up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective skinny contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of skinny are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken
skinny street urchins

When is gaunt a more appropriate choice than skinny?

The meanings of gaunt and skinny largely overlap; however, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is it sensible to use lank instead of skinny?

While the synonyms lank and skinny are close in meaning, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

Where would lanky be a reasonable alternative to skinny?

In some situations, the words lanky and skinny are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When can lean be used instead of skinny?

While in some cases nearly identical to skinny, lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

When might rawboned be a better fit than skinny?

The synonyms rawboned and skinny are sometimes interchangeable, but rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

When could spare be used to replace skinny?

The words spare and skinny are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 skinny
Adjective
Some are as skinny as a pencil; others can be as much as 2 feet wide. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025 The magic is in the mashup — wide bands versus skinny stripes, color colliding with neutrals, sportswear mixed with tailoring. —Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Refinery29, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
She was last seen wearing a white tank top, gray skinny ripped jeans and a pink bonnet in her hair. —Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 18 July 2025 Denim trends have shifted away from rigid skinnies and toward ease, fluidity, and freedom. —Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skinny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skinny
  1. thin
  2. slender
  3. scoop
  4. narrow
  5. bony
  6. tip
  7. lean
  8. rumor
Adjective
  • Vogue’s Favorite Gold Necklaces Featured in this article With an endless array of iterations—from thin, barely-there metallic strands to bolder, statement-making chains that instantly command attention—gold chain necklaces are some of the best gold jewelry pieces to add to your collection.
    — Samantha Solomon, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Maternal health remains under-researched compared to other therapeutic areas, and the pharmaceutical pipeline is thin—just 91 compounds in development, versus thousands for areas like neurology or dermatology.
    — Shelley Stewart III, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • This further shrank the already slender Republican House majority.
    — W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • There are several superstar cameos, and they’re nicely integrated into the movie’s slender plot.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of slender
Noun
  • The starter box includes the first two weeks of food, custom instructions for you and your pup to help make the transition smooth, a handy scoop and puptainer to serve and hold your Ollie dog food.
    — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
    — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of scoop
Adjective
  • Students have a narrow window to unlock access to training that could dramatically shape their post-grad trajectory.
    — Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • For decades, OPOs have been bulky systems with narrow ranges.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Lift your hips off the ground and place a block underneath your sacrum, the widest, boniest part of your pelvis.
    — Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024
  • Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.
    — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
Definition of bony
Noun
  • Duris believes businesses may be able to encourage employees not to ‘hop’ away, offering tips for employers on how to help prevent high turnover rates.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Whereas French manicures typically curve along the edge of the nail down to the cuticle—even when it's done on square nails—Lovato's micro tips are painted straight across.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of tip
Adjective
  • All of a sudden, the GTD takes on an entirely different, immediately noticeable character, low and lean and ready to carve through canyons with the best supercars.
    — Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Designed to have a slightly more brutalist lean than the chair’s colonial origins, this option is for the maximalist at heart.
    — Elissa Suh, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of lean
Noun
  • Expect to continue hearing rumors and speculation about Reaves' future in the coming months.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
  • After many years of on-again, off-again rumors, the tech giant finally opened its doors along Woodward Ave.
    — Brian Manzullo, Freep.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Definition of rumor

Browse Nearby Words

skinning
skinny
skins
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Cite this Entry

“Skinny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skinny. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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