How to Use lanky in a Sentence

lanky

adjective
  • Through the first six outs, the lanky southpaw punched out three.
    — NOLA.com, 23 May 2018
  • Huntsman is lanky, with sharp blue eyes and a pair of fierce dachshunds.
    — The New Yorker, 30 May 2022
  • Here comes the lanky white girl getting the huge Nike shoe deal.
    — Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 12 June 2024
  • Our gardenia shrub has grown tall and lanky.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Sampson is a lanky 6-foot-4 guard.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Her teammate, the tall and lanky Yarbrough, is sleek and fast.
    — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2023
  • Both parents feed the young, called colts because of their lanky legs.
    — Jim Gilbert, Star Tribune, 20 Aug. 2020
  • No, the man described by police as tall and lanky didn’t steal a bunch of undies.
    — Matthew Martinez, star-telegram, 12 July 2018
  • To keep the plants more bushy than lanky, pinch them back in spring and early summer.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2023
  • Your plant is a bit lanky and topping back some shoots may give a more rounded dense look.
    — Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Nov. 2021
  • The front door opened, and a lanky, dapper man with white hair and a mustache walked in.
    — Brett Martin, Outside Online, 24 May 2018
  • The lanky righty worked around a Fitzgerald error for a clean frame.
    — Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2024
  • In person, Turner was tall, lanky and loud.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 May 2026
  • Without that type of pruning the plant will tend to grow lanky and leggy.
    — Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
  • Starting too early causes seedlings to grow tall and lanky with weak stems.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Quintanilla is 18 years old now, tall and lanky with dark hair.
    — Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 27 May 2021
  • His lanky figure curved on the piano bench and his long curls dangled over the keys.
    — Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The lanky fourth-year pro was eager to showcase his skills in that role and others.
    — Gary Klein Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2020
  • Petunia is lanky and long-legged, with a black body and brown paws that match the color of her eyes.
    — Cleo Krejci, Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Driver was six feet three and lanky, with squinty eyes, a beaky nose, and ears that stuck straight out.
    — Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2019
  • Hobert is lanky, with pin-straight strawberry-blonde hair and a deep speaking voice.
    — Carrie Battan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Newsom’s lanky frame was folded onto a sofa a bit too low-slung for him.
    — Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The tall, lanky guy was a first baseman and pitcher while at Milby.
    — David Taylor, Houston Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2018
  • Bryce is tall and lanky with the ability to score in many different ways.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • And the Thunder didn’t know how to approach the lanky giant.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 1 June 2026
  • Tall and lanky, the 27-year-old man wore a light blue durag, a white shirt, gray pants and a backpack.
    — Dan Barry, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2024
  • As Pichai entered the water, waves pummeled his lanky frame.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 May 2026
  • Trim and move lanky indoor plants into higher light or outdoors.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
  • When Wilson’s lanky frame and baby face graced the big screen, the room erupted.
    — Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2024
  • Hurtig, a lanky forward with a prow of bright-blond hair, loped toward the ball and sent a low, hard shot.
    — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lanky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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