rickety
Old, weak and likely to fall apart.
rickety in a sentence
- They climbed the rickety ladder one at a time, wincing as every rung creaked and wobbled.
- The rickety pier creaked with every step, its old planks loose and wobbly.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to rickety?
- Asturdy
- Bshaky
- Cfirm
- Dsolid
Show the answer
B: shaky. The other three mean the opposite of rickety.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to rickety?
- Asturdy
- Bflimsy
- Cshaky
- Dwobbly
Show the answer
A: sturdy. The other three mean nearly the same as rickety.
Words that mean something similar
shaky, wobbly, flimsy
Words that mean the opposite
sturdy, solid, firm
More words about appearance & looks
- rotund: Round and plump in shape.
- scowl: To make an angry, cross face by pulling your eyebrows down; or that angry face itself.
- shabby: Old, worn out and scruffy-looking.
- sleek: Smooth, shiny and well cared for.
- splendid: Extremely good or beautiful to look at.
- stately: Grand, dignified and impressive.
- stout: Rather fat and solid, or strong and thick.
- sturdy: Strong and solidly built, not easily broken.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test