wiry
adjective
wirier
ˈwī-rē-ər 
; wiriest
; wiriest
1
a
archaic
: made of wire
b
: resembling wire especially in form and flexibility
the wiry coat of the schnauzer
wiry stems
c
of sound
: produced by or suggestive of the vibration of wire
The violist … often let his tone go nasal and wiry.—
D. J. Henahan
D. J. Henahan2
: being lean, supple, and vigorous : sinewy
… the wiry figure of a long distance runner.—Phoenix Flame
Phoenix FlameExamples 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
In a new trailer for The Death of Robin Hood released on January 6, Jackman swaps out his clean-shaven ethos for a rugged silver fox transformation, complete with a long grizzled beard and wiry gray hair.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Kiyan is a wiry, 6-5, 185-pound guard who prefers more of a finesse game.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, also known as the Fawn Colored Brittany Basset, is a hound with coarse, wiry fur that conveniently repels dirt and does not mat, according to the AKC.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
In Marty Supreme’s electrifying opening moments, the audience is introduced to the wiry 20-something (played by Timothée Chalamet) in 1950s New York.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wiry
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Lara Walsh, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Kiyan is a wiry, 6-5, 185-pound guard who prefers more of a finesse game.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
The Basset Fauve de Bretagne, also known as the Fawn Colored Brittany Basset, is a hound with coarse, wiry fur that conveniently repels dirt and does not mat, according to the AKC.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
In Marty Supreme’s electrifying opening moments, the audience is introduced to the wiry 20-something (played by Timothée Chalamet) in 1950s New York.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wiry
Cite this Entry
“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiry. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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