BMI categories (underweight, overweight or obese) from general reading table are inappropriate for athletes, children, the elderly, and the infirm.
Source: tatoeba (1131481)
Underweight
Synonyms for "underweight" (97 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (20)
Strong matches (29)
gauntnessgawkinessgawkygravitygross weighthaggardnesshatchet faceheavinessheftheftinesslanklankinesslanknesslankylantern jawsleanlean-fleshedlean-lookingleannesslight
Show 2 more words
Noun(1 words)
german dünn
Adjective(6 words)
low bmi categorylow body weightlow body weight individuallow weightlow weight individuallow weight status
Related words (48)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: anorexic, avoirdupois, bantamweight, beef, beefiness.
- Sentence evidence is available for underweight, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "underweight".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "underweight"
Keep "underweight" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "underweight" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "underweight", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "underweight" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entrieshealth indicatorhealth statusnutritional statusphysical stateweight category
More specific
9 entriesadult underweightchild underweightlow BMIlow birth weightmalnutrition related underweightpregnancy related underweightpregnant underweightsevere underweightundernourished state
Collocations
10 entriesBMI underweight cutoffundernourished stateunderweight adultunderweight categoryunderweight childunderweight individualsunderweight patientunderweight populationunderweight prevalenceunderweight status
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesunderweight statusunderweighting
similar
2 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
The female calf is underweight at about 30 kilograms.
Source: tatoeba (8740264)
Being underweight is higher risk than being overweight.
Source: tatoeba (10602952)
At a nearby clinic, wailing babies, sullen children and skinny mothers line the benches. Some have children already enrolled in a WFP feeding program for chronically underweight children and breastfeeding mothers.
Source: tatoeba (12350082)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "underweight"?
Closest matches include anorexic, avoirdupois, bantamweight, beef, beefiness.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "underweight"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.