knobby-kneed
Bumpy leg joints
Knobby-kneed describes legs with prominent, bony knees that seem to jut out—whether from thinness, youth, or natural build.
The word often appears in descriptions of gangly adolescents or awkward young animals: a knobby-kneed colt learning to stand, knobby-kneed kids in shorts.
Awkwardly tall and thin
- gawkyAwkwardly tall and clumsy
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- lankyTall and ungainly thin
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
uncoordinated · stiff · coltish · graceless · shambling · stumbling · lumbering · slouching
Thin, with protruding skeleton
- angularSharp-edged or rawboned
- protrudingExtending outward noticeably
- jointedHaving flexible connections
- gnarledTwisted and knotty
knotted · lumpy · skinny · scrawny · spindly · thin · gangly · lanky
Person in puberty
- teenagerPerson aged thirteen-nineteen
- pubertySexual development stage
- coltishYouthfully awkward and lively
- growingIncreasing or enlarging
immature · juvenile · gangly · youth · schoolchild · preteen · tween · developing
Easily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- exposedOut in open
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- tenderSoft or sore
weak · scrawny · defenseless · unprotected · slight · frail · sensitive · bruised
gangly
Awkwardly tall and thin
self-conscious · uncoordinated · stiff · coltish · graceless · shambling · stumbling · lumbering · slouching · clumsy
bony
Thin, with protruding skeleton
- angularSharp-edged or rawboned
- protrudingExtending outward noticeably
- jointedHaving flexible connections
gnarled · knotted · lumpy · skinny · scrawny · spindly · thin · gangly · lanky · jutting
adolescent
Person in puberty
- teenagerPerson aged thirteen-nineteen
- pubertySexual development stage
- coltishYouthfully awkward and lively
growing · immature · juvenile · gangly · youth · schoolchild · preteen · tween · developing · sprouting
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- exposedOut in open
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
tender · weak · scrawny · defenseless · unprotected · slight · frail · sensitive · bruised · scraped