RAWBONED Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'rawboned' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rawboned are gaunt , lanky , lank , lean , scrawny , skinny , and spare . While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment. // a rawboned farmer

Q: When might 'gaunt' be a better fit than 'rawboned'?

While the synonyms gaunt and rawboned are close in meaning, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering. // a prisoner's gaunt face

Q: When is it sensible to use 'lank' instead of 'rawboned'?

The words lank and rawboned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lank implies tallness as well as leanness. // the lank legs of the heron

Q: When can 'lanky' be used instead of 'rawboned'?

In some situations, the words lanky and rawboned are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness. // a lanky youth, all arms and legs

Q: When could 'lean' be used to replace 'rawboned'?

Although the words lean and rawboned have much in common, lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours. // a lean racehorse

Q: How do 'scrawny' and 'skinny' relate to one another, in the sense of 'rawboned'?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality. // a scrawny chicken // skinny street urchins

Q: When is 'spare' a more appropriate choice than 'rawboned'?

While in some cases nearly identical to rawboned , spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise. // the gymnast's spare figure

rawboned

adjective

Definition of rawboned

as in angular

having a prominent and often large or rugged bone structure The cowboy was tall and rawboned.

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How does the adjective rawboned contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rawboned are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, scrawny, skinny, and spare. While all these words mean "thin because of an absence of excess flesh," rawboned suggests a large ungainly build without implying undernourishment.

a rawboned farmer

When might gaunt be a better fit than rawboned?

While the synonyms gaunt and rawboned are close in meaning, gaunt implies marked thinness or emaciation as from overwork or suffering.

a prisoner's gaunt face

When is it sensible to use lank instead of rawboned?

The words lank and rawboned are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lank implies tallness as well as leanness.

the lank legs of the heron

When can lanky be used instead of rawboned?

In some situations, the words lanky and rawboned are roughly equivalent. However, lanky suggests awkwardness and loose-jointedness as well as thinness.

a lanky youth, all arms and legs

When could lean be used to replace rawboned?

Although the words lean and rawboned have much in common, lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours.

a lean racehorse

How do scrawny and skinny relate to one another, in the sense of rawboned?

Both scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.

a scrawny chicken

skinny street urchins

When is spare a more appropriate choice than rawboned?

While in some cases nearly identical to rawboned, spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.

the gymnast's spare figure

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of rawboned Like so many in Lincoln Heights, this tiny, rawboned 89-year-old woman had lived through a time of gang violence, high crime and police oppression. — Brittny Mejia, Joe Mozingo, www.latimes.com, 3 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rawboned

Adjective

On screen, Guitarrica’s expressive and angular visage conveys the fright and uncertainty that afflict his character, who is desperate for tenderness.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
One sits on the nose bridge, next to the angular artery, and picks up pulse, blinking, and eyebrow movement.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of angular

Adjective

Fields of solar panels blanket parts of Inner Mongolia, while the slender silhouettes of wind turbines spin above grazing sheep.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
This one was carved from a block of limestone and features a slender face with a long nose and a tiny, smiling mouth.

— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of slender

Adjective

Related Stories Arriving to Southwark Crown Court, Brand wore a grey suit, white shirt and grey skinny tie.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
On a Wednesday afternoon at Ralphs on Pico Boulevard, a skinny, six-foot-tall tower of sensors rolled through the aisles.

— Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

The question here is no longer whether routine HR tasks can be automated, but whether a lean enterprise can entirely decouple structural governance from human oversight.

— Syed Ahmad, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Now after some very lean years, UConn football is being talked about.

— Eric Womack, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of lean

Adjective

Bajaria may also have hit thin ice with Sarandos after the streamer won just 16 Primetime Emmy Awards this year — its worst showing since 2016 and down from 30 in 2025.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
It was designed with a column, sheath silhouette, with sequins, thin spaghetti straps and a midlength skirt.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of thin

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raw deal

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“Rawboned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rawboned. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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