wiry

adjective

ˈwī(-ə)r-ē 

wirier ˈwī-rē-ər  ; wiriest

1

a

archaic : made of wire

b

: resembling wire especially in form and flexibility

the wiry coat of the Irish terrier

wiry stems

c

of sound : produced by or suggestive of the vibration of wire

the violinist … often let his tone go nasal and wiry

—D. J. Henahan

2

: being lean, supple, and vigorous : sinewy

the wiry figure of a long-distance runner

—Phoenix Flame

wirily

ˈwī-rə-lē 

adverb

wiriness

ˈwī-rē-nəs 

noun

Examples of wiry in a Sentence

a man with long, wiry arms

She was lean and wiry from years of working out.

He has dark, wiry hair.

Recent Examples on the Web

Saba, wiry and yet to fill out, is set for a big AAU season in the spring after limited minutes as a freshman on junior varsity. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025

The place is filled with wiry fighters reeking of Tiger Balm and sweat. —Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025

The crew also included a taxi driver from Brooklyn, a Dartmouth College student, and a wiry fisherman and seal hunter with endless stories of peril at sea. —David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025

The wiry 6-foot-4, 203-pound Sasaki went 30-15 with a 2.02 ERA in 69 games over four seasons in Japan, striking out 524 and walking 91 in 414 ⅔ innings. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

wiry

adjective

ˈwī(ə)r-ē 

wirier ˈwī-rē-ər  ; wiriest

1

: resembling wire in form and flexibility

wiry stems

2

: being slender yet strong and muscular

a wiry physique