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
Finally, the pellets are liquified, dyed and extruded through a showerhead-like device to create long, skinny strands of fiber that can be woven into fabric. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025 His yearly books aren’t skinny little books, either. —Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
Stay tuned for Deadline’s Q&A with Blue Bloods EP Kevin Wade for the BTS skinny on the series finale. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024 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 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
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The Land-Dweller comes in 36 mm and 40 mm sizes, both just 9.7 mm thin.
    — Steven Rogers, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • With their lanky legs and slender necks, sandhill cranes stand roughly three to four feet tall.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Since the crescent moon is both very slender after the new moon and visible for only a short period in the west above the sunset, it may be sighted on Sunday, March 30, but more likely on Monday, March 31.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of slender
Noun
  • This week, Liz Shackleton scored a major scoop after landing an exclusive interview with Toei Company CEO Fumio Yoshimura for our International Disruptors brand, ahead of his trip to L.A. to meet with Hollywood studios (wonder what Trump will make of that…).
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Customers looking for a punch of protein can add rotisserie-style chicken or steak at no additional cost or can pay extra for a scoop of smashed avocado.
    — Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of scoop
Adjective
  • The narrow five-game spread between the top and bottom performers illustrates the relative consistency in baseline predictive ability.
    — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • This would seemingly narrow season 4's destinations down to... Will There Be a Season 4 of The White Lotus?
    — Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 7 Apr. 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
  • Here are a few tips for managing your old accounts after consolidating your debt.
    — Christina Majaski, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Here are a few tips to support your digestive health:23 Watch your diet: Avoid spicy, high-fat, and acidic foods.
    — Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of tip
Adjective
  • Musk’s image in Silicon Valley was useful to the Trump campaign, bringing in new fanboy voters and sending a message that the administration would transform the government and run it like a lean start-up.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Eating a heart-healthy diet: Focus on fruits and vegetables, lean protein, beans, and legumes.
    — Anju Goel, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of lean
Noun
  • The Philadelphia Eagles accepted President Donald Trump’s invitation to the White House to celebrate their 2025 Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs despite rumors to the contrary.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • After months of rumors, the Switch 2 was officially announced in January with a teaser video that showed off its sleek, larger design.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 2 Apr. 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 16 Apr. 2025.

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