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 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 wiry—
D. J. Henahan
D. J. Henahan2
: being lean, supple, and vigorous : sinewy
the wiry figure of a long-distance runner—Phoenix Flame
Phoenix Flame
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
This springiness also helps the wiry tines grab broad leaves and pull them to you en masse.
—Gabriel Morgan, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
Directed by Severi, the film explores questions of fraternity and survival with a wiry comic tone and the expressive, natural splendor of the Puglian coast.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 9 Oct. 2023
Farid was the youngest of their three sons — a wiry boy buzzing with energy who roared around the neighborhood on a bike.
—Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2023
The star singer is wiry, bleach-blond Roma twentysomething Ali (Samson Selim), a near-stranger hanging out after a one-night stand with middle-aged Toni.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Sep. 2023
Allen, who is thin and wiry, got the Meadowlands dirt a decade ago from a housing developer nearby.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
Good natured and wiry framed, Qutesh is behind the counter most hours his store’s open.
—Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2023
Wasting no time, Blanchard — an unassuming, wiry, bespectacled teen — began stealing from electronics, furniture, and department stores, including completely clearing out a local RadioShack with some friends on Easter Sunday 1987.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2023
Risk factors for developing pilonidal cysts include having thick, wiry hair on the lower back, sitting for long periods of time, and friction, such as a belt rubbing against the skin.
—Scott Sundick, Verywell Health, 25 June 2023
See More
Gabriel Morgan, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
Directed by Severi, the film explores questions of fraternity and survival with a wiry comic tone and the expressive, natural splendor of the Puglian coast.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 9 Oct. 2023
Farid was the youngest of their three sons — a wiry boy buzzing with energy who roared around the neighborhood on a bike.
—Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2023
The star singer is wiry, bleach-blond Roma twentysomething Ali (Samson Selim), a near-stranger hanging out after a one-night stand with middle-aged Toni.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Sep. 2023
Allen, who is thin and wiry, got the Meadowlands dirt a decade ago from a housing developer nearby.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2023
Good natured and wiry framed, Qutesh is behind the counter most hours his store’s open.
—Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2023
Wasting no time, Blanchard — an unassuming, wiry, bespectacled teen — began stealing from electronics, furniture, and department stores, including completely clearing out a local RadioShack with some friends on Easter Sunday 1987.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2023
Risk factors for developing pilonidal cysts include having thick, wiry hair on the lower back, sitting for long periods of time, and friction, such as a belt rubbing against the skin.
—Scott Sundick, Verywell Health, 25 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wiry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near wiry
Cite this Entry
“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiry. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on wiry
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wiry
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share