wiry

Wiry is an adjective describing something that resembles or is characteristic of wire. It conveys stiffness, strength, or elasticity. Commonly, the term is used for people or animals with lean, sinewy musculature rather than bulky fat, but it can also describe hair, fibers, or plant stems that are tough yet flexible.

The word derives from wire, with the sense evolving from a literal likeness to a description of texture or resilience. It is attested in English from the Middle Ages, and figurative uses became common to indicate toughness, rigidity, or pliant strength. An alternate spelling, wirey, is sometimes encountered, but wiry is the standard form.

In people, a wiry frame suggests endurance and rugged strength for tasks requiring stamina rather than sheer bulk. It can describe lean limbs with well-defined musculature or a compact, resilient physique. In hair, wiry hair is coarse and stiff, often standing away from the scalp and sometimes difficult to style. In plants and textiles, wiry stems or fibers are slender yet tough, able to withstand bending and pulling without breaking.

Wiry typically carries a neutral to positive or pragmatic connotation, implying resilience, tenacity, and durability. It can, however, imply stiffness or lack of softness in certain contexts, depending on what is being described. Related terms include sinewy and tough, which are often used to emphasize similar ideas of strength and resilience.