sinew

1 of 2

noun

sin·​ew ˈsin-(ˌ)yü 

 also  ˈsi-(ˌ)nü

1

: tendon

especially : one dressed for use as a cord or thread

2

obsolete : nerve

3

a

: solid resilient strength : power

astonishing intellectual sinew and clarity

—Reynolds Price

b

: the chief supporting force : mainstay

—usually used in plural

providing the sinews of better living

—Sam Pollock

sinew

2 of 2

verb

sinewed; sinewing; sinews

transitive verb

: to strengthen as if with sinews

Did you know?

Many parts of the body have come to have figurative meanings in English. One can have an eye for interior design, for example, or lack the stomach for horror movies. Muscle, of course, can mean "strength," and so can sinew, a word for the tissue that ties muscle to bone—more commonly known as a tendon. For a while, sinew and nerve were used in a synonymous manner for both tendons and nerves, but the use of sinew in the sense of "nerve" is now obsolete, and nerve in the sense of "sinew" or "tendon" is now primarily found only in certain phrases such as "strain every nerve" (which implies making every possible effort). The use of sinew to mean "the chief supporting force" ties into its anatomical function as a stabilizing unit. Sinew derives via Middle English from Old English seono; it is also related to Old High German senawa ("sinew") and Sanskrit syati ("he binds").

Synonyms

Noun

• energy
• firepower
• force
• horsepower
• might
• muscle
• potence
• potency
• power
• puissance
• strength
• vigor

Examples of sinew in a Sentence

Noun

cutting through bone and sinew

the justices displayed great intellectual depth and sinew in writing their opinion on this case

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Just the machine, without the ghost, without the tender nerve and sinew of life. —Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024

For thread, early Americans likely used the sinew from the connective tissues of large mammals, Pelton said. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024

Verb

In Rauch’s lively production, which deftly sinews the in-the-round Fichandler Stage, chorus members execute resonant stylized movement and also take cameos, such as a diner cook and waitress (Lamar and Kate Mulligan). —Celia Wren, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sinewe, from Old English seono; akin to Old High German senawa sinew, Sanskrit syati he binds

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1614, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

sinew

noun

sin·​ew

ˈsin-yü,

 also  ˈsin-ü

1

: tendon

especially : one prepared for use as a cord or thread

2

: solid strength : power

Medical Definition

sinew

noun

sin·​ew

ˈsin-(ˌ)yü, -yə(-w) also ˈsin-(ˌ)ü

: tendon