scrawny C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈskrɔni/ UK /ˈskrɔːni/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj unattractively thin and bony A scrawny stray cat lingered by the back steps. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · unattractively thin and bony skinnybonygauntganglyemaciatedlankyscraggy ↔ Opposites plumpchubbystoutburly Word family Derived forms scrawniness Related forms scrawn Etymology AI details Mid-19th century, a dialectal variant of 'scranny', of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect 'skran' ('lean'). Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # scrawny **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈskrɔni/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈskrɔːni/ ## Meanings 1. unattractively thin and bony ## Examples - A scrawny stray cat lingered by the back steps. ## Synonyms - skinny - bony - gaunt - gangly - emaciated - lanky - scraggy ## Antonyms - plump - chubby - stout - burly ## Derived Forms - scrawniness ## Related Forms - scrawn ## Etymology Mid-19th century, a dialectal variant of 'scranny', of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect 'skran' ('lean'). ## AI Etymology Scrawny is a mid-19th century formation, a dialectal variant of 'scranny', of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect 'skran' ('lean'). The form preserves a compact historical development in which the older wording and the present sense remain closely connected. As an adjective, it carries the sense "unattractively thin and bony", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Derivative forms include scrawniness; related words include scrawn. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown