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
Photos show the new species’ coloring and its long, skinny tail. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025 Anything goes with fits, including Gen Alpha kids ironically wearing the same skinny jeans as their millennial moms. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 May 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, 7 June 2025
  • The warm, sunny weather was helping the thin layer of oil evaporate, and the spill did not seem to harm wildlife, Laughlin said.
    — Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • The slender figures wear precious garments, enhanced with cabochons and pearls, and adorned with ornaments.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • McMillan also needs to continue working with Carolina’s strength staff, because his lower body has always been slender and could impact his physical ceiling.
    — Joseph Person, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Definition of slender
Noun
  • Another way to get the inside scoop on availability is with the Nintendo Today!
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
  • Oh, and the answer is yes — you’re allowed to have more than one scoop of ice cream.
    — Amaia Gavica, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2025
Definition of scoop
Adjective
  • Beach replenishment also is planned, but the narrow right-of-way through San Clemente includes no room for a second set of tracks.
    — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
  • For decades, international philanthropy has framed Africa through a narrow lens: a continent in need, a landscape of poverty, disaster and helplessness.
    — Victoria Philips, Forbes.com, 6 June 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
  • My first tip to ward off burnout is to get back to paper.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Martínez briefly left the conference to retrieve a bat so Franco could demonstrate some tips.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Definition of tip
Adjective
  • By contrast, Ono’s tentative UF contract is notably leaner — and stricter.
    — Garrett Shanley, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
  • However, what the study suggests is that this struggle has just gotten leaner and meaner – with a rise of 5.8% in unemployment for new college grads, and similar other harbingers of doom for Gen Z as a labor force.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Definition of lean
Noun
  • After rumors spread recently that Coinbase and Ripple were vying to acquire Circle, the largest stablecoin company in the United States just squashed speculation by announcing their IPO will go live next week on June 4.
    — Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • This Anthony Edwards Co-Star For more Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and general NBA news and rumors, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
    — Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 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 11 Jun. 2025.

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