Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a protruding jaw giving the face a gaunt appearance: Describes a person whose lower jaw is long, prominent, and often angled forward, creating a thin, lean, or hollow look in the face.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The old sailor was a tall, lantern-jawed man with piercing blue eyes.
  • Her lantern-jawed profile was distinctive and memorable.
  • The detective in the novel was described as gaunt and lantern-jawed.

Advanced Usage

• Descriptive Character Trait: Often used in literary or descriptive writing to create a vivid physical portrait, sometimes implying sternness, determination, or a weathered appearance.
  • The portrait captured his lantern-jawed determination perfectly.

Variants and Related Words

• Lantern jaw (noun): The physical feature itself; a long, protruding jaw.
  • He inherited his father's lantern jaw.

Synonyms

• Long-jawed
• Prognathous (more technical/medical term)
• Gaunt-jawed

Antonyms

• Round-faced
• Weak-chinned

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A lantern jaw: Used to refer to the feature itself.
  • He was known for his lantern jaw and quiet demeanor.

Adjective

1. having a protruding jaw giving the face a gaunt appearance