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skeletal
adjective
skel·e·tal
ˈske-lə-tᵊl
: of, relating to, forming, attached to, or resembling a skeleton
Examples of skeletal in a Sentence
The archaeologist found skeletal remains.
She was skeletal after her illness.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trove of artifacts Between the two mounds, archaeologists uncovered about 1,000 artifacts — including the skeletal remains of several dozen people.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
What To Know On Thursday, the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office said clandestine graves with bodies and skeletal remains had been found over the previous week near the town of Casas Grandes, in the northern Mexican state.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Her attacks often left behind nothing but chilling remnants—torn garments, skeletal remains and the haunting echoes of her roars.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
In September, authorities confirmed that skeletal remains found by a deer hunter in Wisconsin were those of a preschool-age boy named Elijah Vue who had been missing since February.
—Stephen Smith, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1854, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing skeletal
Dictionary Entries Near skeletal
Cite this Entry
“Skeletal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeletal. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
skeletal
adjective
skel·e·tal
ˈskel-ət-ᵊl
: of, relating or attached to, forming, or resembling a skeleton
skeletal muscles
the skeletal system
Medical Definition
skeletal
adjective
skel·e·tal
ˈskel-ət-ᵊl, British sometimes ske-ˈlēt-ᵊl
: of, relating to, forming, attached to, or resembling a skeleton
skeletal structures
the skeletal system
More from Merriam-Webster on skeletal
Nglish: Translation of skeletal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of skeletal for Arabic Speakers
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