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sinewy

[ sin-yoo-ee ]
/ ˈsɪn yu i /
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adjective

having strong sinews: a sinewy back.
of or like sinews; tough, firm, braided, or resilient: a sinewy rope.
having conspicuous sinews; stringy: tough, sinewy meat.
vigorous or forceful, as language, style, etc.: a sinewy argument.

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RELATED WORDS

leathery, brawny, muscular, sturdy, athletic, fibrous, firm, hard, powerful, strong, vigorous

Nearby words

  1. sine qua non,
  2. sine wave,
  3. sinecure,
  4. sinemet,
  5. sinew,
  6. sinfjotli,
  7. sinfonia,
  8. sinfonietta,
  9. sinful,
  10. sinfully

Origin of sinewy

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at sinew, -y1
Related formssin·ew·i·ness, nounun·sin·ew·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sinewy

British Dictionary definitions for sinewy

sinewy

/ (ˈsɪnjʊɪ) /

adjective

consisting of or resembling a tendon or tendons
muscular; brawny
(esp of language, style, etc) vigorous; forceful
(of meat, etc) tough; stringy
Derived Formssinewiness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sinewy

sinewy

adj.

late 14c., "made of sinews," from sinew + -y (2). As "tough, stringy" from 1570s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper