sinew

American  

[sin-yoo] / ˈsɪn ju /

noun

• sinews
  plural

1. a tendon.

2. Often sinews. the source of strength, power, or vigor.

   the sinews of the nation.

3. strength; power; resilience.

   a man of great moral sinew.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with sinews; strengthen, as by sinews.

sinew British  

/ ˈsɪnjuː /

noun

1. anatomy another name for tendon

2. (often plural)

   1. a source of strength or power

   2. a literary word for muscle

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sinewless
  adjective
• unsinewed
  adjective
• unsinewing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sinews
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of sinew

before 900; Middle English; Old English sinu (nominative), sinuwe (genitive); cognate with Dutch zenuw, German Sehne, Old Norse sin; akin to Sanskrit snāva sinew

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Explanation

The tendon that connects muscles to bone is also called sinew. The noun is also used to suggest strength and resilience, and is sometimes used as a literary term for muscle, literal or metaphorical, as in “a nation’s sinew.” Sinew derives from before 900 CE, with relatives found in the Dutch zenuw and the Old High German senawa. Our present spelling worked its way through the Old English seonowe to become the Middle English sinewe. Aside from its anatomical meaning, this word is often used to present an image of strength and power, evident in filmmaker Ingmar Bergman’s statement, “I write scripts to serve as skeletons awaiting the flesh and sinew of images.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sinew sinews

She became the party’s spine and its sinew, holding together the Democrat’s many warring factions and standing firm at times the more timorous were prepared to back down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025

Players who don't have the manager's back might not strain every last sinew when they know his job is hanging by a thread.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2025

But the Gloucester lock's superb restart take,, external all arched back, strained sinew and single-paw dexterity, early against Exeter bore more than a bit of a resemblance.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025

The nearly photorealistic face of Senua, the unconventional hero of this 10th-century revenge tale, as she grimaces with every sinew taut, her veins bulging.

From New York Times ● May 20, 2024

But as we circled to receive our share of providence, the fat flanks of the magnificent beasts we’d stalked on the hill shrank to parched sinew, the gristle of drought-starved carcasses.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

These dot-plot predictions, in turn, can influence current or future changes in stock or bond prices, the sinews of financial markets.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

It’s hard to imagine a greater accomplishment than to achieve peace while stiffening the sinews of deterrence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026

Among the findings are arrows preserved with their original feathers, remains of fibres, and two bowstrings made of animal sinews, which are the oldest found so far in Europe.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 5, 2024

Tiger bone is believed to strengthen bones and sinews, provide pain relief and help get rid of wind.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2023

When he laughs, the wrinkles stretch tight, and you can see the muscles and sinews of his neck.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

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Related Words

• tendon

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