wiry

American  

[wahyuhr-ee] / ˈwaɪər i /

adjective

wirier, wiriest

1. made of wire.

2. in the form of wire.

3. resembling wire, as in form, stiffness, etc..

   wiry grass.

4. lean and sinew.

   a wiry little person.

5. produced by or resembling the sound of a vibrating wire.

   wiry tones.

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wiry British  

/ ˈwaɪərɪ /

adjective

1. (of people or animals) slender but strong in constitution

2. made of or resembling wire, esp in stiffness

   wiry hair

3. (of a sound) produced by or as if by a vibrating wire

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Other Word Forms

• wirily adverb
• wiriness noun

Etymology

Origin of wiry

First recorded in 1580–90; wire + -y ¹

Example Sentences

In these paintings, figures are defined by wiry contours and modeled with lean pigments in saturated hues.

From The Wall Street Journal

With his wiry frame and shy eyes, the British actor has demonstrated in films such as “La Chimera” and “The Mastermind” an appetite for soft-spoken characters who exude a gentle masculinity.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s older again, wearing a simple black sweater and some wiry glasses.

From Literature

He was a small, wiry fellow in a long checkered coat.

From Literature

Gretzky had scored at a devastating clip for an absurdly long time—20 NHL seasons that saw him turn from a wiry 18-year-old into the league’s elder statesman.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agile
• athletic
• limber
• muscular
• sinewy
• strapping
• supple