wiry
adjective
wirier
ˈwī-rē-ər 
; wiriest
; 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
D. J. Henahan2
: being lean, supple, and vigorous : sinewy
the wiry figure of a long-distance runner—Phoenix Flame
Phoenix FlameExamples 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
One was a short, funny, wiry kid named Ernie, who had grand theft auto on his résumé.
—Graydon Carter, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
The wiry and intense physicality that Benesch brought to her role as a newbie schoolteacher in The Teachers’ Lounge — a kind of frankness and presence that’s evident too in her mostly deskbound role in September 5 — finds new depths in her Late Shift performance.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
He’s got some wiry strength and power with room to fill out and add lean muscle mass to a very rangy frame.
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The knock on the No. 5 pick from 2021 was whether his wiry frame and lack of explosive straight-line speed would hold him back from top-six NHL success.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wiry
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Graydon Carter, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
The wiry and intense physicality that Benesch brought to her role as a newbie schoolteacher in The Teachers’ Lounge — a kind of frankness and presence that’s evident too in her mostly deskbound role in September 5 — finds new depths in her Late Shift performance.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025
He’s got some wiry strength and power with room to fill out and add lean muscle mass to a very rangy frame.
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The knock on the No. 5 pick from 2021 was whether his wiry frame and lack of explosive straight-line speed would hold him back from top-six NHL success.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wiry
Cite this Entry
“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiry. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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