Scrawny: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who is very thin and possibly weak, often in a slightly negative or unflattering way

• The stray cat looked scrawny after weeks of living on the streets.
• Despite his scrawny appearance, he was actually very strong.

A neutral term to describe someone who is not heavy, generally used without any negative connotations

• She has always been naturally thin, no matter what she eats.
• The dress looks great on her thin frame.

A casual or sometimes less formal term used to describe someone who is very thin, can be playful or mildly critical depending on the tone

• She worried that she was too skinny to play sports.
• The children made fun of him for being so skinny.

Typically used in medical or dramatic contexts to describe someone who is extremely thin and malnourished, usually due to illness or lack of food

• The famine left many people emaciated and in desperate need of medical attention.
• The patients in the refugee camp appeared emaciated and frail.

Used to describe a person who is thin and bony, often with a tired or sickly appearance, suggesting weariness or suffering

• His face was gaunt from weeks of sleepless nights.
• The old man looked gaunt, with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks.

Used to describe someone who is very thin in a way that might suggest weakness or poor health. It can have a negative connotation.

• The stray cat looked scrawny after weeks without proper food
• He felt self-conscious about his scrawny arms

Generally used to describe someone who is thin in a healthy and strong way. It has a positive connotation.

• He trained hard to maintain a lean physique
• The greyhound is a lean and athletic dog

Describes someone who is so thin that their bones are prominent. It can also have a negative connotation, often implying lack of flesh.

• Her bony elbows were noticeable through her shirt
• The horse looked bony after a long period of neglect

Emphasizes extreme thinness, often suggesting malnutrition or severe weight loss. It has a strong negative connotation.

• After the illness, he was reduced to skin-and-bones
• The old man looked like skin-and-bones after months without proper care

Often used to describe someone who is thin in an unattractive or unhealthy way. It has a negative connotation.

• The stray dog looked scrawny and weak
• He was always a scrawny kid in school

Describes something small and weak, often in a disparaging way. It can refer to both people and objects.

• The plant looked puny compared to the others in the garden
• His puny muscles were no match for the athlete’s strength

Used to describe something that is lacking in quantity or quality. It often refers to resources like food, funds, or rewards.

• The meal was meager, not enough to satisfy her hunger
• The workers received meager wages for their efforts

Typically used in a positive or neutral manner to describe someone who is attractively thin and graceful.

• She wore a slender dress that accentuated her figure
• The tree had a slender trunk and delicate branches