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
Love Squares would be a great name for a 1970s-style game show hosted by a man with a very skinny microphone. —Brian Grubb, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 The new collection features organic cotton and recycled materials, reinforcing their eco-conscious mission, layered compositions and a mix of oversized and skinny cuts. —Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
The constant diet and exercise failures were frustrating, especially as a brown girl who was told that skinny is beautiful. —Syeda Saad, refinery29.com, 25 Sep. 2024 The Slim-Fit Don’t worry, these are not your average skinnies. —Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2024 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
  • Chinese smartphone company Honor has released devices that fold up to be nearly as thin as an iPhone.
    — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Crowds are also thin in the fall, and the mountain foliage views are breathtaking.
    — Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • Yet there have been many tall, slender prospects who played like tigers in the minors and like scared kittens against big-league pitching.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The slender piece of wood can serve as a useful tool—especially for puppies, who often chew on objects like sticks to soothe discomfort while teething, much like teething children are given hard objects to chew.
    — Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of slender
Noun
  • Newsletter Get the lowdown on L.A. politics Sign up for our L.A. City Hall newsletter to get weekly insights, scoops and analysis.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Stop in for a scoop of the shop’s signature flavor of orange-pineapple.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of scoop
Adjective
  • Thirty narrow stairs lead to City Ballet’s bright, top floor rehearsal studio, with double ballet barres lining three walls, a floor-to-ceiling mirror, and an open ceiling with a treacherously low center beam that high jumping dancers have learned to avoid.
    — Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Others may include family offices that offer a narrower range of services.
    — Francois Botha, Forbes, 2 Mar. 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
  • Editor's Note: This recipe was developed by Craig Ruff; the recipe tips were written by Kimberly Holland.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Image Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.
    — Danielle Pergament Nick Ballón, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of tip
Adjective
  • This measured approach mirrors the principles of lean philanthropy and agile business strategy, where organizations test, iterate, and adapt before expanding.
    — Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Participants were divided into three groups – lean, overweight, and obese – based on their body mass index (BMI).
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of lean
Noun
  • Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Justin Bieber's rep has shut down the rumors that the pop star is unwell.
    — Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
  • While Survivor is just one day away from the premiere of its 48th season (tune into CBS Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 8/7c for the two-hour premiere), casting rumors have long been swirling online for a season that hasn’t even filmed yet… rumors that involve famous country singer Dierks Bentley.
    — Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of rumor

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Cite this Entry

“Skinny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skinny. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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