wiry

[ wahyuhr-ee ]

adjective

, wir·i·er, wir·i·est.

1. made of wire.
2. in the form of wire.
3. resembling wire, as in form, stiffness, etc.:

   wiry grass.

4. lean and sinew:

   a wiry little person.

5. produced by or resembling the sound of a vibrating wire:

   wiry tones.

wiry

/ ˈwaɪərɪ /

adjective

1. (of people or animals) slender but strong in constitution
2. made of or resembling wire, esp in stiffness

   wiry hair

3. (of a sound) produced by or as if by a vibrating wire

Derived Forms

• ˈwiriness, noun
• ˈwirily, adverb

Other Words From

• wiri·ly adverb
• wiri·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wiry¹

First recorded in 1580–90; wire + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The place I grew up, once ringing with songs and laughter, had mutated into a black abyss strewn with the wiry corpses of oak trees.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time, YG was an up-and-coming wiry truth-teller, a fellow Compton rapper who turned into a superstar and provided Shy with a blueprint of how to succeed.

From Los Angeles Times

In a black jacket, shirt and tie, sporting a bushy haircut and a full, wiry beard, he looked like an MMA fighter ready to attend a Johnny Cash convention.

From Los Angeles Times

To get the most out of his wiry 6-foot-2 frame, he learned to throw with maximum effort on every pitch.

From Los Angeles Times

His long, wiry white hair — pulled back in a ponytail — contrasted nicely with his black-framed glasses.

From New York Times

Related Words

• agile
• athletic
• limber
• muscular
• sinewy
• strapping
• supple