Standard Lemma guide

scrawniness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The property of being scrawny.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • We threw the fish back because of its scrawniness; there was no meat on it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the property of being stunted and inferior in size or quality

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the scrawniness of sickly trees

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: scrubbiness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inferiority, low quality

3

noun

Meaning 3

the bodily property of lacking flesh

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: skinniness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: leanness, thinness, spareness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English scrawny Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English scrawniness From scrawny + -ness.