scrawny

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈskrɔni/ UK /ˈskrɔːni/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
unattractively thin and bony

A scrawny stray cat lingered by the back steps.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · unattractively thin and bony skinny bony gauntganglyemaciatedlanky scraggy

Opposites

plump chubby stout burly

Word family

Derived forms scrawniness

Related forms scrawn

Etymology

Mid-19th century, a dialectal variant of 'scranny', of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect 'skran' ('lean').

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# 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

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scrawny

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