as in gaunt
being tall, thin and usually loose-jointed
a gangly teenager who was born to play varsity basketball
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gangly
The reasons are partly anthropomorphic — these large, gangly birds are fiercely protective of their young, and the fathers stay behind to rear the chicks after the mothers fly on to central Mexico or some other wintering grounds.
—
Krista Stevens, Longreads, 8 July 2024
Dern is volcanic, her movements childlike and untamed in their gangly abrasiveness.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 8 May 2024
So named for his gangly appearance by teammates at Miami, the Hall of Fame linebacker spent one all-pro season with the Packers in 1974.
—Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2024
Eventually, the group’s number is reduced to one: a gangly, smart-mouthed junior named Angus Tully, played by newcomer Dominic Sessa in an exceptionally impressive debut.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gangly
Krista Stevens, Longreads, 8 July 2024
Dern is volcanic, her movements childlike and untamed in their gangly abrasiveness.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 8 May 2024
So named for his gangly appearance by teammates at Miami, the Hall of Fame linebacker spent one all-pro season with the Packers in 1974.
—Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2024
Eventually, the group’s number is reduced to one: a gangly, smart-mouthed junior named Angus Tully, played by newcomer Dominic Sessa in an exceptionally impressive debut.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for gangly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gangly
Adjective
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In the distance, a line of tall gaunt leafless trees becomes visible.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2025
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Stepping out from a white van, the Israeli civilian looked gaunt and frightened.—
Mick Krever,
CNN,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Much credit should go to the lanky redhead, who navigated the tricky tone of the post-wildfire Oscars as nimbly as any host of the 21st century could have.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
8 Mar. 2025
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Working out must be tricky for someone with CIPA, and Quaid has a tall, lanky quality that suggests a smiley scarecrow — but what a smile, combining the best of parents Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid!—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Ron Book, the Trust’s chairman — a 5-foot-8 septuagenarian, who that night sported ripped skinny jeans and designer blue sneakers — marched up to them.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2025
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After years of skinny jeans and wide-leg cuts taking over the market, the bootcut is having a renaissance, thanks partly to Kendrick Lamar wearing a pair during the halftime of Super Bowl LIX.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That’s because the twisty, spindly room centerpiece with large, pointy, deep green leaves is no ordinary tree.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
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In a black-and-white photo that serves as Cyrus’ new profile picture on Instagram, the backlit singer poses in a spindly, avant-garde headpiece while staring directly at the camera — though her face is entirely blacked out by the high contrast of the artwork.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The rangy second-year is unassumingly fifth in defensive win shares this season.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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The Celtics picked their spots against the impossibly rangy Wembanyama, who entered Wednesday with 75 more blocks than any other NBA player (and got another one early on an Al Horford layup attempt).—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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About a month after your peach tree blooms, thin out fruit.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Mar. 2025
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Staying hydrated helps thin mucus and clear congestion.6 Adults should aim to drink between 9 and 13 cups of fluids daily.—
Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN,
Verywell Health,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
3 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Gangly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gangly. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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