wiry

Picture a person who looks slim, not big, but feels strong and full of energy. That is the heart of "wiry." It usually describes a body that is thin, lean, and tough rather than heavy or muscular. A wiry runner, farmer, or old dog may not look powerful at first, but they have strength, stamina, and a hard-to-break quality.

The word is also used for hair. Wiry hair feels coarse, stiff, and a little hard to control, not soft or silky. In both cases, the idea is the same: something thin or fine that still feels tough and strong.

"Wiry" describes someone or something that is thin but strong. When it is used for a person or animal, it usually suggests a lean body with firm muscles, quick movement, and surprising toughness. A wiry boxer, runner, mechanic, or farm dog may not be large, but they seem hard, active, and full of endurance. The word often gives the sense of strength without bulk.

It is also common in descriptions of hair. Wiry hair is coarse, stiff, and springy, not soft, smooth, or flowing. A beard, a dog's coat, or a few stray hairs can all be described this way when they feel rough and stand out firmly.

The word comes from the idea of wire: something thin, narrow, and hard to bend or break. That is why "wiry" often carries both the idea of slimness and the idea of toughness at the same time. It is stronger than simply saying "thin" or "slim," because it adds a sense of energy, tension, and durability.

In everyday English, the most common uses are for body type and hair texture. Sometimes it can also describe plants, branches, or other thin things that feel tough and stringy. In nearly every case, the core idea stays the same: not large, but strong; not soft, but tough.