What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rawbone
Example
The cowboy had a rawbone frame, with sinewy muscles rippling beneath his skin. [rawbone: adjective]
Example
She admired the rawbone beauty of the wild horses galloping across the plains. [rawbone: noun]
scrawny
Example
The stray dog was scrawny and malnourished, with ribs protruding from its sides. [scrawny: adjective]
Example
He was teased for being scrawny and weak, unable to keep up with the other kids in sports. [scrawny: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scrawny is more commonly used than rawbone in everyday language. Scrawny is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while rawbone is less common and may be considered outdated or regional.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between rawbone and scrawny?
Neither rawbone nor scrawny are particularly formal or informal. However, rawbone may be perceived as more old-fashioned or regional in some contexts.
