Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Consisting or full of sinews, as.
  • adjective Stringy and tough.
  • adjective Lean and muscular. synonym: muscular.
  • adjective Strong and vigorous.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of the nature of a sinew; resembling a sinew; forming a sinew; tendinous: as, sinewy fibers; a sinewy muscle, in which the tendinous part is conspicuous.
  • Having strong sinews; hence, muscular; strong; brawny; robust.
  • Pertaining to or due to physical strength; hence, stout, strong, or vigorous in any way.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, a sinew or sinews.
  • adjective Well braced with, or as if with, sinews; nervous; vigorous; strong; firm; tough.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Tough; having strong sinews.
  • adjective figuratively Having or showing nervous strength.
  • adjective of a person possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful
  • adjective consisting of tendons or resembling a tendon
  • adjective (of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I intend to discuss just that in sinewy masculine prose.

    A Giant Leap For Personkind ? Newmania 2008

  • The style of its wines—sometimes described as sinewy and linear, with aromas of raspberry or earthy notes—taste like no other and, in terms of a comparison scale, they are a long way from Australia's Barossa Shiraz.

    An Australian in Burgundy Will Lyons 2011

  • The style of its wines—sometimes described as sinewy and linear, with aromas of raspberry or earthy notes—taste like no other and, in terms of a comparison scale, they are a long way from Australia's Barossa Shiraz.

    An Australian in Burgundy Will Lyons 2011

  • It was what might be termed a sinewy, knotty strength, of the kind we ascribe to lean and wiry men, but which, in him, because of his heavy build, partook more of the enlarged gorilla order.

    Chapter 2 2010

  • It was what might be termed a sinewy, knotty strength, of the kind we ascribe to lean and wiry men, but which, in him, because of his heavy build, partook more of the enlarged gorilla order.

    Chapter 2 1904

  • Soror is best known for her electrifying and primordial forests, "ancient trees," and bodacious flowers, but she also makes avatar adornments such as sinewy and curvilinear antlers, and brightly colored jewelry.

    Soror Nishi: "Your computer screen is stained glass" Bettina Tizzy 2009

  • Soror is best known for her electrifying and primordial forests, "ancient trees," and bodacious flowers, but she also makes avatar adornments such as sinewy and curvilinear antlers, and brightly colored jewelry.

    Archive 2009-03-01 Bettina Tizzy 2009

  • Books that length struggle to find a publisher these days, so this kind of sinewy masterpiece is a dying art-form.

    :Acquired Taste Tim Stretton 2007

  • Again, the unabridged dictionary gives "sinewy" as its first definition of "nervous."

    The Human Brain Asimov, Isaac 1963

  • The muted red, gray and off-white mottled surface of the former brings to mind the texture of sinewy muscles; the monochromatic black installs a simple elegance on the latter.

    ArtScene: Current California Exhibitions You Should See ArtScene 2010

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