thin-faced

thin-faced

A thin-faced man gazes thoughtfully out the window.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Having a narrow or slender face: "thin-faced" describes someone whose face is notably narrow, with little flesh or width, often giving an appearance of leanness or delicacy.
    • Characterized by a face that appears gaunt or angular: It can imply a face with prominent cheekbones and a lack of fullness, sometimes suggesting a serious or refined look.
Usage Examples
  • (A man with a narrow, lean face.)
  • (A cat with a slender face structure.)
  • (A woman depicted with a narrow, delicate face.)
Advanced Usage

  • "thin-faced as a whisper": a poetic or literary way to describe a face so narrow it seems subtle or barely noticeable.

    • He appeared at the door, thin-faced as a whisper, and vanished without a word. (His face was so slender it seemed ephemeral.)

  • "thin-faced honesty": a metaphorical use where the face's narrowness symbolizes a lack of pretense or surplus.

    • Her thin-faced honesty made her a trusted advisor. (Her straightforward, lean appearance matched her candid nature.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Thin-facedness (noun): the quality or state of having a thin face.

    • His thin-facedness was often noted in family photos. (The characteristic of his narrow face was frequently observed.)

  • Thin-facedly (adverb): in a manner characteristic of a thin face.

    • She smiled thin-facedly, her cheeks barely moving. (She smiled in a way that emphasized her narrow face.)
Synonyms
  • Lean-faced: having a face with little flesh; similar to "thin-faced" but often implies fitness rather than gauntness.
  • Narrow-faced: focusing on the width of the face rather than the amount of flesh.
  • Gaunt-faced: emphasizing a hollow, worn appearance, often from illness or hunger.
Related Idioms

  • (As) thin-faced as a rail: an idiom comparing the narrow face to a thin, straight object.

    • After the diet, he was as thin-faced as a rail. (His face became extremely narrow.)

  • Thin-faced luck: a rare, idiomatic expression meaning luck that is barely sufficient or precarious.

    • He won by thin-faced luck, just a single vote. (His success was narrowly achieved, like a slender face.)