wiry

adjective

ˈwī(-ə)r-ē 

wirier ˈwī-rē-ər  ; 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

2

: being lean, supple, and vigorous : sinewy

… the wiry figure of a long distance runner.

—Phoenix Flame

wirily

ˈwī-rə-lē 

adverb

wiriness

ˈwī-rē-nəs 

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

Eighteen years old and 13 pounds too light to join the Marines, the wiry, wide-eyed teen watched his recruiter zip through the aisles, grabbing a roll of tape, a sledgehammer, and a length of lead pipe. —Jp Mangalindan, Time, 9 Oct. 2025

Your hair may feel rigid, wiry, or fibrous. —Maggie Donahue, Health, 27 Sep. 2025

His wiry frame and outside shot have already drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, which Ament calls a blessing. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025

Bateman commits to his character’s wiry unruliness and makes Vince into a self-destructive twit, which is probably by intent. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for wiry

• kyrie
• expiry
• inquiry

Kids Definition

wiry

adjective

ˈwī(ə)r-ē 

wirier ˈwī-rē-ər  ; wiriest

1

: resembling wire in form and flexibility

wiry stems

2

: being slender yet strong and muscular

a wiry physique