Hunchbacked - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Hunchbacked describes a person or animal with an abnormally curved or hunched spine, often causing a noticeable forward bend in the upper back. It can result from medical conditions or poor posture.
Definition:
Having a back that is abnormally curved or hunched due to deformity or posture.
Synonyms:
humpbacked, stooped, crooked, bent
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
straight-backed, erect
Common Collocations:
hunchbacked posture, hunchbacked figure, hunchbacked old man
Derivatives:
hunchback (noun), hunchbackedness (noun)
Usage Tips:
Use "hunchbacked" to describe someone with a visibly curved spine; avoid offensive contexts.
Common Phrases:
the Hunchback of Notre Dame, bent like a hunchback, standing like a hunchback
Etymology:
Derived from "hunch" (to bend) + "back," first recorded in the 18th century.
Examples:
- 1. The old man was hunchbacked from years of hard labor.
- 2. She walked slowly, her hunchbacked silhouette clear in the moonlight.
- 3. The fairy tale featured a kind but hunchbacked dwarf.
- 4. His hunchbacked posture made it difficult for him to stand straight.