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
The spindly youngster is at the beginning of a journey that will successively turn him into one of the most promising, one of the most unfortunate, one of the most maddening and ultimately one of the most celebrated football players in the world.
—
Tom Williams, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Gone were the spindly metal chairs and wobbly tables just unwelcoming enough to discourage lingering.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 13 May 2025
The spindly 6-0, 170-pounder made big strides each season after that.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Keep in mind, in the world of asparagus, thin and spindly is not always better than thick and chunky.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spindly
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Tom Williams, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Gone were the spindly metal chairs and wobbly tables just unwelcoming enough to discourage lingering.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 13 May 2025
The spindly 6-0, 170-pounder made big strides each season after that.
—Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Keep in mind, in the world of asparagus, thin and spindly is not always better than thick and chunky.
—Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 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 6 Jun. 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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