Synonyms of sinewy
1
: full of sinews: such as
a
: tough, stringy
sinewy meat
b
: strong
sinewy arms
2
: marked by the strength of sinews
… a demanding sinewy intelligence …Helen Dudar

Examples of sinewy in a Sentence

The lion has a sinewy body. a sinewy piece of meat
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 White man, his sinewy, tattooed arms already beet-red from the sun, shouldered the cross from the center beam. John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026 The swimmers looked like swimmers—sinewy and long, with huge hands and feet. Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 At the center of it all is Brent Charles’ sinewy Caius Martius Coriolanus, who runs through the play like a human scythe. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Theron, meanwhile, hurls herself into the sinewy action sequences that have increasingly been her home turf over the past two decades, flinging herself down hills and into rivers and navigating some precarious rock-climbing terrain. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sinewy

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sinewy was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sinewy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinewy. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

sinewy

adjective
1
: full of sinews : stringy
sinewy meat
2
: strong sense 1
sinewy arms

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