spindly

Imagine a baby bird learning to stand: its legs might be spindly - long, thin, and not very strong. The word describes something that looks weak, narrow, or easy to break. You might use it for a thin tree branch, long table legs, or the arms and legs of a very skinny person. It often gives a picture of something a bit fragile or not fully strong yet.

The word "spindly" paints a picture of something that is very thin compared with its length or height, often with a sense of weakness or fragility. It is more than just thin; it suggests that something looks slight, narrow, and not very sturdy. Think of a newly planted sapling - if it has shot up quickly but still has a narrow stem, you might describe it as spindly.

Originally, "spindly" came from the word "spindle," the thin rod used in spinning yarn. Like a spindle, something described as spindly is long and slender, but the word usually also suggests that it could bend, snap, or wobble easily.

You will often see spindly used for plants ("a spindly rose bush"), furniture ("the table had spindly legs"), or people ("a spindly teenager going through a growth spurt"). It is usually not a compliment. The word often suggests that something needs support, or that it has grown tall or long without becoming strong.

Although it can be purely descriptive, spindly often carries a feeling of delicacy and vulnerability. It helps the reader picture something thin and a little weak, rather than healthy, solid, or well built.