Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Tall and thin, often awkwardly so: Describes a person, especially a young person, who is unusually tall and slender, often implying a lack of grace or coordination due to rapid growth.
   • Having long, slender limbs: Specifically emphasizes long arms and legs in proportion to the body.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The gangly teenager struggled to control his long limbs on the basketball court.
  • She was a gangly girl who had grown six inches in a single year.
  • His gangly frame made it difficult to find clothes that fit properly.

Advanced Usage

• Comparative and Superlative Forms: "ganglier," "gangliest."
  • After another growth spurt, he became the gangliest player on the team.
• Used to describe youthful growth: Often implies a temporary, awkward phase of adolescence.
  • He eventually grew into his gangly build and became quite athletic.

Variants and Related Words

• Gangling (Adjective): A near-identical synonym, often used interchangeably with "gangly."
  • A gangling youth stood at the back of the room.
• Lanky (Adjective): Very similar in meaning, describing a tall, thin, and loosely built person.
  • The lanky forward was an excellent rebounder.

Synonyms

• Lanky: Tall and thin.
• Rangy: Tall and slender in build.
• Spindly: Tall, thin, and looking weak.

Antonyms

• Stocky: Broad and sturdily built.
• Stout: Somewhat fat or heavily built.
• Compact: Small and solidly built.

Adjective

1. tall and thin
2. tall and thin and having long slender limbs
   • a gangling teenager
   • a lanky kid transformed almost overnight into a handsome young man