as in gaunt
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed
the lanky basketball star was great at slam-dunking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 lanky
The members of Geese are young, lanky, and elegantly disaffected in a way that recalls both the Strokes and the Velvet Underground, two forebears of a certain strain of New York City cool.
—
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Macie, a lanky, frightened shelter dog in Florida, was pulled from a euthanasia list by rescuer Rebecca Landerman after being labeled too stressed to stay in the shelter.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Even the mild-mannered Waterboy is upset, knocking over cups in the kitchen in his own weak way — that is, until emotion gets the best of him, leading to the lanky hero hurling a chair through the vending machine.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
The Santa Clarita Hart High graduate has great stuff, and has shown comparable compete, but many in the Jays’ formidable order are familiar with the lanky right-hander who pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League for six seasons.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lanky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lanky
Adjective
-
During the conversation, Van Der Beek opened up about the overwhelming response to his gaunt appearance during September's Dawson's Creek reunion.—
-
Van Der Beek's notably gaunt face sparked speculation about his condition amid his cancer battle.—
Adjective
-
Bongiovi wore a red, velvet suit with a skinny black tie to the premiere and the after-party.—
-
Style them with a pleated skirt and sweater for a preppy edge, pull them over skinny jeans for a streamlined look, or pair them with a sweater dress for date night.—
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, other plants struggle when light levels drop in winter, developing spindly stems and discolored leaves.—
-
Making the most of his spindly body and LaGuardia High School–bred smirk, Chalamet uses his inescapable boyishness completely to his advantage, bringing an immature audacity to the classic in-over-his-head operator.—
Adjective
-
Sweet pea shrub is a rangy plant that is cut back to keep it more compact.—
-
The rangy 22-year-old was one of the C’s biggest preseason standouts, however, and should play an important role this season as an athletic chaos agent off the bench.—
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.—
-
Yimobra Memory Foam Bath Mat, $9 with Prime The bath mat is made from memory foam that feels plush underfoot and cushions each step, unlike thin cotton mats.—
Adjective
-
War was coming, but for her father, Eberhard, then a gangly teenager, life in Hawaii was an endless summer.—
-
Almost immediately, the long legs, tail, and gangly frame didn’t match that breed.—
Adjective
-
There’s also a secret pocket in the waistband for storing small slender items like credit cards or an ID.—
-
There’s more to the TV than its ultra-slender dimensions, though.—
Cite this Entry
“Lanky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lanky. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share