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

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

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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 Douglas, who is speedy, lanky and athletic at 6 foot 4, 205 pounds, can be tough to defend. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026 At one point something about the way the sculpture is perched atop Roth’s lanky frame is deemed extraterrestrial. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026 Andrew Garfield, what an actor – tall, lanky, a little cooler than Toby, but such heart. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026 The lanky 26-year-old ascended the Astros’ pitching hierarchy as a starting pitcher but has blossomed into a swingman in Houston’s bullpen during his first full major-league season. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lanky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lanky

Adjective

As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
On the first day of the hearing, July 22, Salah Sarsour's brother, Mohammad Sarsour, testified that his brother appeared gaunt and dirty and complained of pain and inadequate medical care during his detention in an Israeli jail.

— CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of gaunt

Adjective

The junior right-hander can be rolling to his left, then plant, turn and fire a pass, with his long, skinny arm, 60 yards downfield and right on the money.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
While at the airport, the singer wore skinny jeans and a white tee, styled with bauble earrings and a black-and-white fringe jacket.

— Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

At a little under two feet, the can’t-miss fixture spreads a warm light that creates a welcoming atmosphere for reading, relaxing, or sharing drinks without harsh overhead lighting or a spindly, corner-lurking, fluorescent presence.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
In this splendid and very hot outfit, completed with spindly heeled sandals, Allie reluctantly toddles off into the night to join her glimmering, mini-skirted sisters.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of spindly

Adjective

Many different clubs have considered moves for the rangy midfielder over the years, and Atletico came closest to signing him in summer 2024.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Some appear impulsive, or impressively rangy, leaving earlier and traveling more, whereas others fail to leave altogether.

— Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

Definition of rangy

Adjective

Days turn crisp, aspens begin streaking the valley with gold and summer crowds thin in Grand Teton National Park.

— Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Unlike mainstream fusion projects such as tokamaks, the Texatron does not rely on giant superconducting magnets to hold a thin gas in place for long periods.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

The tall, slender Berry imagined, chronicled and lived out his vision of a self-sustaining community in which no one had to ask where their food came from or the names of their neighbors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Several other curved, slender bones were soon found nearby, according to pictures shared with the station.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of slender

Browse Nearby Words

lank

lanky

lantern

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“Lanky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lanky. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lanky

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