Gaunt

/ɡɔːnt/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age.
The gaunt figure of the old man at the corner made everyone stop and think.
grim or desolate in appearance.
The gaunt landscape after the drought was a stark reminder of nature’s power.

Etymology

Middle English, from the Old French 'gant', meaning 'the thin, emaciated condition'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

gaunt as a scarecrow
Very thin and frail in appearance.
gaunt figure
A person who appears unhealthily thin.

Related Words

emaciated
Extremely thin and weak, especially because of illness or lack of food.
haggard
Looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering.

Slang Meanings

Looking really bad or unhealthy.
Dude, you look so gaunt after that week-long trip.
Skinny to the point of being alarming.
She was so gaunt that it was hard to recognize her.