sinewy
Americanadjective
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consisting of or resembling a tendon or tendons
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muscular; brawny
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(esp of language, style, etc) vigorous; forceful
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(of meat, etc) tough; stringy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sinewy
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at sinew, -y 1
Explanation
Something muscular, with a tight and stretched toughness, is sinewy. Tennis players' lean arms have a sinewy beauty, all the muscles showing as they hit their smoking serves. A sinew is a tendon that attaches muscles to bones, and something sinewy has a lot of sinew or shows a lot of built-up tissues. If you're a carpenter or a piano player, you probably have well-exercised, sinewy hands and fingers. Lines in nature, such as tree limbs and roots, can be sinewy too. Being sinewy is attractive when it's in good health, but it can also make you look too stretched or thin, even scrawny. Tough meat can be sinewy and unchewable.
Vocabulary lists containing sinewy
Grade 12, List 1
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Hoot
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Vigorous Vocab: Synonyms for "Strong"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In one town, the slurry knocked out a hydropower project, adding even more water to the deluge as it joined the Teesta, a Himalayan river known for its sinewy twists and turns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
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 ● Nov. 21, 2025
In his early 60s, his body is a marvel, hard and sinewy and believably battle-scarred.
From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 2024
It was the juxtaposition of Mara’s potent, sinewy turn in “The Girl with Dragon Tattoo” and the nuanced fragility she exuded in “Carol” that confirmed his admiration for her performances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2024
The animals were larger than I expected, languid and sinewy, their tails flicking as they monitored our approach.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
