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 FlameExamples 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
Lawrence is like the orange M&M, or the also-orange wiry guy from Inside Out 2.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 June 2025
In every previous iteration of the play, the wiry, manic Leguizamo has performed the show with his signature motor-mouth energy, fiery personality and chameleon-like talent for creating characters and voices.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
The doctor, a short and wiry Iranian man in his 50s, stared into my throat with a flashlight and listened to my lungs.
—Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 9 May 2025
As Banda escaped, Sasaki raised his wiry frame atop the rail and roared.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wiry
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.
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 June 2025
In every previous iteration of the play, the wiry, manic Leguizamo has performed the show with his signature motor-mouth energy, fiery personality and chameleon-like talent for creating characters and voices.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
The doctor, a short and wiry Iranian man in his 50s, stared into my throat with a flashlight and listened to my lungs.
—Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 9 May 2025
As Banda escaped, Sasaki raised his wiry frame atop the rail and roared.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wiry
Cite this Entry
“Wiry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wiry. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share