VocabDictionary

gaunt

/ษกษ”หnt/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.adjective

Lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œThe long winter left the villagers looking gaunt and weary.โ€
  • โ€œHe stared at his own gaunt reflection in the cracked mirror.โ€
2.adjective

Desolate, bleak, or grim in appearance.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œThe gaunt landscape of the desert offered no shelter from the sun.โ€
  • โ€œThe house stood as a gaunt silhouette against the darkening sky.โ€
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โ€œgauntโ€.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Originating in the mid-14th century, the word is of uncertain etymology. It is possibly derived from the Old Northern French 'gant', meaning 'thin' or 'slender', though some linguists suggest a Scandinavian origin related to the Old Norse 'gandr', meaning 'spirit' or 'monster', implying a spectral, thin appearance.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of a 'gaunt' person looking like a 'ghost'โ€”both are thin, pale, and bony.

Frequently Asked Questions About โ€œgauntโ€

1. What is the meaning of โ€œgauntโ€ in English?

In English, gaunt (adjective) is defined as: โ€œLean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age.โ€.

2. How do you use โ€œgauntโ€ in a sentence?

โ€œThe long winter left the villagers looking gaunt and weary.โ€

3. What are English synonyms of โ€œgauntโ€?

Common synonyms include:haggard,emaciated,skeletal,cadaverous,scrawny

4. What is the etymology and word origin of โ€œgauntโ€?

Originating in the mid-14th century, the word is of uncertain etymology. It is possibly derived from the Old Northern French 'gant', meaning 'thin' or 'slender', though some linguists suggest a Scandinavian origin related to the Old Norse 'gandr', meaning 'spirit' or 'monster', implying a spectral, thin appearance.

gaunt Meaning in English - English Definition & Pronunciation | Vocab Dictionary | Vocab Dictionary