Meaning & use

sinewy

adjective·Advanced

Lean and muscular in a strong, wiry way, or tough and difficult to cut through.

See it in a sentence

The farmer's sinewy arms showed decades of physical labor in the fields.

The meat was sinewy and tough, clearly from an older animal.

A note on using this word

Sinewy describes lean, defined muscle rather than bulky size, and can also describe tough meat or writing that is compact and strong.

Words with a similar meaning

wirymusculartough

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

flabbysoft

Make it your own

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