Definitions

thin as a rail

ADJECTIVE

emaciated

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bony gaunt scrawny skeletal skinny

STRONG

atrophied attenuate attenuated famished lean peaked pinched starved wasted

WEAK

cadaverous consumptive haggard lank like a bag of bones meager skeletonlike skin and bones underfed wizened

Antonyms

STRONGEST

chubby fat heavy overweight plump thick

STRONG

full

WEAK

overnourished

ADJECTIVE

lank

Synonyms

WEAK

all skin and bones angular attenuate attenuated beanpole beanstalk bony cadaverous delicate emaciated ethereal featherweight fleshless fragile gangling gangly gaunt haggard lanky lean lightweight meager narrow peaked pinched pole puny rangy rarefied rawboned reedy rickety scraggy scrawny shadow shriveled skeletal skinny slender slight slim slinky small spare spindly stalky starved stick stilt subtle threadlike twiggy twiglike undernourished underweight wan wasted weedy wizened

ADJECTIVE

twiggy

Synonyms

WEAK

all skin and bones angular attenuate attenuated beanpole beanstalk bony cadaverous delicate emaciated ethereal featherweight fleshless fragile gangling gangly gaunt haggard lank lanky lean lightweight meager narrow peaked pinched pole puny rangy rarefied rawboned reedy rickety scraggy scrawny shadow shriveled skeletal skinny slender slight slim slinky small spare spindly stalky starved stick stilt subtle threadlike twiglike undernourished underweight wan wasted weedy wizened

ADJECTIVE

weedy

Synonyms

WEAK

all skin and bones angular attenuate attenuated beanpole beanstalk bony cadaverous delicate emaciated ethereal featherweight fleshless fragile gangling gangly gaunt haggard lank lanky lean lightweight meager narrow peaked pinched pole puny rangy rarefied rawboned reedy rickety scraggy scrawny shadow shriveled skeletal skinny slender slight slim slinky small spare spindly stalky starved stick stilt subtle threadlike twiggy twiglike undernourished underweight wan wasted wizened

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was creamy with bits of yellow fat, even though the cow was thin as a rail.

From Literature

No quite tall as me, but thin as a rail.

From Literature

Lee: It’s well known that Audrey was as thin as a rail, which was true.

From Fox News

Thin as a rail, with a sparse mustache, he would sometimes have little idea about where or who he was.

From New York Times

He was sensational, thin as a rail but with amazing power – and very strong.

From The Guardian