wiry

adjective

ˈwī(-ə)r-ē How to pronounce wiry (audio)
wirier ˈwī-rē-ər How to pronounce wiry (audio) ; wiriest
Synonyms of wirynext
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 How to pronounce wiry (audio)
adverb
wiriness
ˈwī-rē-nəs How to pronounce wiry (audio)
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
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.
The spork's wiry handle is steel, as well. — C.c. Weiss may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2026 The thin, wiry stems climb by twining to cover a trellis, arbor, or fence. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 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 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 See All Example Sentences for wiry

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of wiry was in 1588

Rhymes for wiry

See All Rhymes for wiry

Browse Nearby Words

wirricow
wiry
wis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiry. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wiry

adjective
ˈwī(ə)r-ē How to pronounce wiry (audio)
wirier ˈwī-rē-ər How to pronounce wiry (audio) ; wiriest
1
: resembling wire in form and flexibility
wiry stems
2
: being slender yet strong and muscular
a wiry physique

More from Merriam-Webster on wiry

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wiry

Nglish: Translation of wiry for Spanish Speakers

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