sinewy

American  

[sin-yoo-ee] / ˈsɪn yu i /

adjective

1. having strong sinews; muscular; brawny.

   a sinewy back.

2. of or like sinews; tough, firm, braided, or resilient.

   a sinewy rope.

3. having conspicuous sinews; stringy.

   tough, sinewy meat.

4. vigorous or forceful, as language, style, etc..

   a sinewy argument.

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sinewy British  

/ ˈsɪnjʊɪ /

adjective

1. consisting of or resembling a tendon or tendons

2. muscular; brawny

3. (esp of language, style, etc) vigorous; forceful

4. (of meat, etc) tough; stringy

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Other Word Forms

• sinewiness noun
• unsinewy adjective

Etymology

Origin of sinewy

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; sinew, -y ¹

Example Sentences

His writing is sinewy and unsparing, as enchanting and hair-raising as the forest itself.

From The Wall Street Journal

Radiohead's secret sauce has always been their rhythm section - who manage to locate sinewy, danceable grooves even when presented with their bandmate's most challenging material.

From BBC

Spending time with his clothes — pinstriped suits accented with sinewy leather, belts embellished with coins and cowrie shells, or delicate yet stiff snakeskin pants — one is struck by the immeasurable depths of his inspiration.

From Los Angeles Times

Charlotte, whom I hadn’t seen in over a decade, looked conspicuously healthy—glowing, sinewy, centered.

From The Wall Street Journal

Moll has made the kind of sinewy procedural that makes your palms sweat.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brawny
• leathery
• muscular
• sturdy