wirier ˈwī-rē-ər How to pronounce wiry (audio) ; wiriest
1
a
archaic : made of wire
b
: resembling wire especially in form and flexibility
the wiry coat of the Irish terrier
wiry stems
c
of sound : produced by or suggestive of the vibration of wire
the violinist … often let his tone go nasal and wiryD. J. Henahan
2
: being lean, supple, and vigorous : sinewy
the wiry figure of a long-distance runnerPhoenix Flame
wirily adverb
wiriness noun

Examples of wiry in a Sentence

a man with long, wiry arms She was lean and wiry from years of working out. He has dark, wiry hair.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The wiry face hair and fur is not labrador. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 And when Ordoñez plays tennis, Solnicki gives him a wiry nervous energy that adds a touch of humor. Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025 Bindweed is wiry and strong and spreads by seeds, roots, and rhizomes. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025 Nini’s shorter, wiry tail is almost always down. Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wiry

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of wiry was in 1588

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Cite this Entry

“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiry. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

wiry

adjective
wirier ˈwī-rē-ər How to pronounce wiry (audio) ; wiriest
1
: resembling wire in form and flexibility
wiry stems
2
: being slender yet strong and muscular
a wiry physique

More from Merriam-Webster on wiry

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