Definition

1. Noun:
   • The property of being stunted and inferior in size or quality: The state of being underdeveloped, meager, or poor in condition.
   • The bodily property of lacking flesh: The physical state of being extremely thin, bony, or emaciated.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The scrawniness of the stray cat made us want to feed it immediately. (The extreme thinness of the stray cat...)
  • The poor soil resulted in the scrawniness of the entire crop. (The stunted, inferior quality of the entire crop...)
  • Despite eating well, he could not overcome his natural scrawniness. (He could not overcome his inherent lack of flesh.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe non-living things metaphorically: While primarily for living things, it can describe things that are meager or underdeveloped.
  • The scrawniness of the evidence made the case hard to prove. (The meagerness of the evidence...)

Variants and Related Words

• Scrawny (adj): Extremely thin and bony.
  • The scrawny branches could barely support the bird's nest.
• Scrag (n, informal): A scrawny person or animal.

Synonyms

• Emaciation: The state of being abnormally thin or weak, often from illness or starvation.
• Gauntness: Extreme thinness, often with a tired or harsh appearance.
• Skinniness: The state of having little body fat or flesh (less extreme than scrawniness).
• Meagerness: Lacking in quantity or quality; scant.

Antonyms

• Plumpness: The state of having a full, rounded shape.
• Stoutness: The state of being rather fat or heavily built.
• Robustness: The state of being strong and healthy; vigor.

Noun

1. the property of being stunted and inferior in size or quality
   • the scrawniness of sickly trees
2. the bodily property of lacking flesh