How is 'gaunt' best described?

The term 'gaunt' is best described as thin and bony, which captures its connotation of someone who appears emaciated or excessively thin, often due to illness or starvation. This word conveys a sense of starkness and severity in a person's appearance, usually indicating a lack of nourishment or a health issue. The imagery associated with 'gaunt' suggests a hollowed-out look, with prominent bones and little flesh, conveying a sense of desolation or suffering. This understanding emphasizes the physical state reflected in the word 'gaunt,' making it appropriate to associate it with being thin and bony. The other descriptors do not align with this meaning, as they suggest health or positive attributes which contrast sharply with the notion of being gaunt.