spindly

adjective

spin·​dly ˈspin(d)-lē How to pronounce spindly (audio)
ˈspin-dᵊl-ē
spindlier; spindliest
1
: of a disproportionately tall or long and thin appearance that often suggests physical weakness
spindly legs
2
: frail or flimsy in appearance or structure
a spindly tower

Examples of spindly in a Sentence

spindly, underfed dogs roamed the poverty-stricken village
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Both have spindly legs, two working rotary knobs on the front for volume and channels and a power button on top. Simon Hill, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024 Anyone visiting the park will want to see the spindly hoodoos, striated in red, gold, and white. Alison Osius, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2024 Known for their long, spindly legs, cellar spiders often create messy, cobweb-style webs in basements or crawlspaces. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 The sequel features some of the most effective scares of the entire series, as the aforementioned Valak lends itself to some truly terrifying sequences, and the spindly Crooked Man (Javier Botet) and unsettlingly mundane Bill Wilkins (Bob Adrian) provide variety to the thrills. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spindly 

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spindly was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near spindly

Cite this Entry

“Spindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spindly. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

spindly

adjective
spin·​dly ˈspin-(d)lē How to pronounce spindly (audio)
-dᵊl-ē
spindlier; spindliest
: of a tall or long and thin appearance that often suggests physical weakness
spindly legs

More from Merriam-Webster on spindly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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