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

The bikes are loud and fast, the drivers are an attractive mixture of confidence, wiry strength and adrenaline. —James Raia, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024

The tree made its first TV appearance on The Howdy Doody Show, and decorations went from cranberries and popcorn to red garland, white plastic globes, icicle lights and wiry white angel trumpeters. —Kate Hogan, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024

The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, though, has two coats of wiry, bristly fur making cold or wet conditions less bothersome. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 27 Nov. 2024

The place is crammed, mostly with young people, but a wiry 5-foot-9 man in his late 30s has taken particular interest in the man in the Michigan sweatshirt. —Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 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