scrawny

[skraw-nee] / ˈskrɔ ni /

ADJECTIVE

unhealthily thin

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bony lanky skinny

WEAK

angular gaunt lank lean rawboned scraggy skeletal skin and bones spare undernourished underweight

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fat heavy overweight plump

WEAK

chubby healthy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lotkoy Ebey has just five scrawny goats to her name where she once had 50.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

He was sitting on a curb beneath a scrawny tree, trying to get some shade, and coughing.

From Slate • Jan. 27, 2026

Friends and family were skeptical of the scrawny teen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

“He came here as a scrawny kicker at 100 pounds,” Walsh said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2025

Was it open wide enough for a scrawny seven-year-old to fit through?

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn