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

Their lead guitarist — a wiry seventeen-year-old named Bruce Springsteen — already had an assistant to hit his echo pedal on cue. —Henry Selick, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025

For Durant, who entered the league as a wiry 18-year-old after a single season at Texas, Flagg’s learning curve felt familiar. —Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

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

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