wiry

adjective

Definition of wirynext
as in scrawny

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wiry Shola Jimoh continues to show promise as a wiry 18-year-old attacker with Inter Toronto and has impressed Marsch in previous Canada camps. — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 7 July 2026 Those themes are compelling on paper, but they’re expressed through a confusing mix of abstraction and hyper-local specificity, hidden beneath biker rock riffs, and obscured through Allbrook’s wiry, wailing vocal delivery. — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 In this rendition, the diabolical duo of Todd and Lovett are younger, more wiry, more tightly wound and thus more dangerous. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026 Chapin, the mechanic on the Shawmut crew, was a wiry 6-footer with a winking sense of humor and a penchant for machine-shop patter peppered with gleeful profanity, a likable 26-year-old who’d been a reliable factory hand and test driver before the fire. — Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wiry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wiry
  1. scrawny
  2. sinewy
  3. rawboned
  4. angular
  5. lean
  6. slender
  7. skinny
  8. thin
Adjective
  • In 1958, a scrawny 17-year-old Pele led Brazil to a World Cup title.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • And who can say for sure whether twilight is the arrival of some dark night or the coming of the dawn, or whether a scrawny boy’s shoulder blades might really be the nubs of angel wings, or where, if anywhere, any of us will find new life.
    — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Definition of scrawny
Adjective
  • The White man, his sinewy, tattooed arms already beet-red from the sun, shouldered the cross from the center beam.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • The swimmers looked like swimmers—sinewy and long, with huge hands and feet.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of sinewy
Adjective
  • Like so many in Lincoln Heights, this tiny, rawboned 89-year-old woman had lived through a time of gang violence, high crime and police oppression.
    — Brittny Mejia, Joe Mozingo, www.latimes.com, 3 Apr. 2018
Definition of rawboned
Adjective
  • The gravity-defying neckline featured wispy metallic silver fringe cascading from its angular edges in a waterfall effect.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 July 2026
  • Up front, the circular LED headlamp injects just enough retro charm to soften that otherwise angular bodywork, creating a silhouette that feels like a cross between a café racer and a streetfighter.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 July 2026
Definition of angular
Adjective
  • Raymond Uco sees women’s denim—including for European fast-fashion brands—lean toward 100 percent cotton, while men’s denim is opting for some comfort stretch.
    — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Sessa is an attractive young man with Tony's impossibly lean physique, who looks good in every single piece of 1975-era costuming.
    — Laurie Woolever, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of lean
Adjective
  • The sandals feature simple, elegant lines that come together in an innovative design, characterized by a slender strap that starts as a slingback and wraps around the foot, culminating in a wavy design over the toe.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
  • The image depicts a fairly slender-looking screen-free wearable, but one that looks distinctly wider than the Fitbit Air.
    — Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of slender
Adjective
  • Must-order side dishes include authentic, crisp and skinny French fries, redolent of truffle, and giant slices of roasted Brussels sprouts.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Maybe that’s why replacing all my skinny jeans with wide-leg styles never quite solved my own denim dilemma.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 31 July 2026
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • The Orioles’ Taylor Ward has been at or near the top of the shopping list for every team seeking a righty-hitting outfield bat since the market for players like him may never have been thinner.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Improperly Drying Flammable Items Drying clothes stained with any type of chemical stains such as gasoline, paint thinner, or acetone is a hazard.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of thin

Browse Nearby Words

wirra
wiry
wisdom
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Cite this Entry

“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wiry. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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