WIRY Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

wiry

adjective

Definition of wiry

as in scrawny

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 The spork's wiry handle is steel, as well. — C.c. Weiss may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2026 The tension between the two boils over into a confrontation which only Eisenhower can adjudicate, a task complicated by his own arrogant British subordinate, a wiry and dislikable General Bernard Montgomery - played with a villainous verve bordering on the pantomime by Damian Lewis. — Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026 Speaking of texture, gone are the days of wiry metal setups that actually kind of hurt to sit on—or leave patterns on the backs of your thighs. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 29 May 2026 The thin, wiry stems climb by twining to cover a trellis, arbor, or fence. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for wiry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wiry

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

At the center of it all is Brent Charles’ sinewy Caius Martius Coriolanus, who runs through the play like a human scythe.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Theron, meanwhile, hurls herself into the sinewy action sequences that have increasingly been her home turf over the past two decades, flinging herself down hills and into rivers and navigating some precarious rock-climbing terrain.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026

Definition of sinewy

Adjective

Mitsouko softened Chypre’s rawboned extremes, imparting a creamy peach glow to the whole.

— Noy Thrupkaew, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2021
Kirschling, a rawboned young man from Wisconsin, had written a master’s thesis at Columbia about long-term productivity decline in New York City’s mass transit.

— William Finnegan, The New Yorker, 2 July 2018

Definition of rawboned

Adjective

Set the scene Morea House’s contemporary, angular facade faces right out onto the beach from where the lively V&A Waterfront is a 20-minute drive north, with Sea Point, another popular stretch of seafront, just 11 minutes away by car.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Opened in 2024 inside the angular landmark tower at Pedregal 24, the hotel has just 26 suites and a deliberate emphasis on privacy, design, and bespoke hospitality.

— Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of angular

Adjective

Adding non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats to pasta salad or potato salad can reduce their glycemic impact.

— Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 6 July 2026
Created in consultation with nutritionist and food consultant Ankita Jalori, the dishes on offer use millets, whole grains, lean proteins like chicken and fish, and low-fat dairy options, such as goat milk.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026

Definition of lean

Adjective

There’s a second wine cellar that will hold an additional 2,000 bottles, and, just beyond the kitchen, an outdoor dining gallery is heated for comfort, with a slender fire feature that runs the length of the table.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
Small and slender, with an average length of about two feet, it is found in the mountainous areas of West Texas.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Definition of slender

Adjective

The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.

— STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
Sprinkle the entire rug with a thin layer of baking soda and wait 20 minutes.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Definition of thin

Browse Nearby Words

wirra

wiry

wisdom

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wiry. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wiry

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on wiry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

yaw

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes