sinewy

[ sin-yoo-ee ]

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.

sinewy

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsinewiness, noun

Other Words From

• sinew·i·ness noun
• un·sinew·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinewy¹

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

Example Sentences

It’s easy to picture proteins as the meaty, sinewy chicken wing I’m biting into as I type this sentence.

From Singularity Hub 

Jane Campion’s gorgeous, sinewy western, based on Thomas Savage’s 1967 novel, is a movie as big as the open sky—but also one where human emotions are distinctly visible, as fine and sharp as a blade of grass.

From Time

The best time to see it is on a sunny day when the light filters through the tall windows and illuminates its sinewy contours.

From The Daily Beast

It was the only thing I knew him by, as a 9-year-old, in 1996, staring up at his sinewy 6 ft.

From Time

The practice isn’t confined to the crape myrtle, but there is something about the tree’s smooth, sinewy bark that invites a chop.

From Washington Post

His flesh is sagging a bit, but he is still trim and looks lean, sinewy and tough.

From The Daily Beast

A sinewy woman emerges, stepping out onto the gray city sidewalk.

From The Daily Beast

Charles Ray has a suite of 15 ink-on-paper paintings in an adjacent room, depicting flowers with sinewy, rainbow-colored petals.

From The Daily Beast

The sinewy muscles of his arms bunched together fiercely at his shoulder.

From The Daily Beast

There was some talk, that maybe, just maybe, this sinewy kid would be a hell of a ticket asset.

From The Daily Beast

“Fibrous” applies metaphorically to mental qualities; it means strong, sinewy—high talents, just below genius.

From Project Gutenberg

His sinewy hands were clenched on his knees, and his moccasined feet crossed and uncrossed themselves as the hearing progressed.

From Project Gutenberg

Tall and sinewy, their stern faces and flashing eyes proclaimed their courage.

From Project Gutenberg

I always pictured them stern bearded men, with brick-red faces and sinewy limbs.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a quiet, rather untalkative man, lean and sinewy, sun and wind bitten.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brawny
• leathery
• muscular
• sturdy