RAWBONED Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of rawboned are gaunt , lanky , lank , lean , scrawny , skinny , and spare . While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment. // a rawboned farmer

Q: When might 'gaunt' be a better fit than 'rawboned'?

While the synonyms gaunt and rawboned are close in meaning, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering. // a prisoner's gaunt face

Q: When is it sensible to use 'lank' instead of 'rawboned'?

The words lank and rawboned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lank implies tallness as well as leanness. // the lank legs of the heron

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

In some situations, the words lanky and rawboned are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness. // a lanky youth, all arms and legs

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

Although the words lean and rawboned have much in common, lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours. // a lean racehorse

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

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

Q: When is 'spare' a more appropriate choice than 'rawboned'?

While in some cases nearly identical to rawboned , spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise. // the gymnast's spare figure

rawboned

adjective

Definition of rawboned

as in angular

having a prominent and often large or rugged bone structure The cowboy was tall and rawboned.

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How does the adjective rawboned contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rawboned are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, scrawny, skinny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

When might gaunt be a better fit than rawboned?

While the synonyms gaunt and rawboned are close in meaning, 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 rawboned?

The words lank and rawboned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When can lanky be used instead of rawboned?

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

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When could lean be used to replace rawboned?

Although the words lean and rawboned have much in common, lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

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

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

a scrawny chicken

skinny street urchins

When is spare a more appropriate choice than rawboned?

While in some cases nearly identical to rawboned, 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 rawboned Like so many in Lincoln Heights, this tiny, rawboned 89-year-old woman had lived through a time of gang violence, high crime and police oppression. — Brittny Mejia, Joe Mozingo, www.latimes.com, 3 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rawboned

Adjective

The angular build brings in thoughtful symmetry and lots of tabletop space to curate a varied display of coffee table books and knickknacks.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
The Mercyenforcer’s face is angular and wind‑burnt, jaw square and unshaven beneath a steel half mask hooked over his mouth.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of angular

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

Some lenders use standard factors by industry; others will accept a letter from a CPA attesting to the business’s actual expense ratio, which can meaningfully improve the income calculation for a lean operation.

— Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
This comes on top of higher home prices, which seem to now be accelerating again in some parts of the country, due to lean supply.

— Diana Olick, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of lean

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

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“Rawboned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rawboned. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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