sinewy
Tough and fibrous
Sinewy describes something lean and muscular, suggesting strength without bulk.
A sinewy arm shows visible tendons and tight muscle.
The word extends to prose or argument that is spare and vigorous: sinewy writing, a sinewy defense of free speech.
Meat that is sinewy has tough, stringy connective tissue—usually undesirable in cooking.
Thin and muscular
- leanLacking fat; incline
- tonedMuscularly firm and defined
- ropyForming glutinous threads
- cordedBound or ribbed
strapping · athletic · sculpted · defined · chiseled · hardened · tight · firm
Full of fibers
- tendinousRelating to tendons
- gristlyHaving tough connective tissue
- chewyResisting easy biting
- toughDurable and strong
ropy · corded · threadlike · filamentous · stranded · braided · twisted · fibrous
Having great physical energy
- muscularHaving well-developed sinews
- tautStretched under tension
- spareHeld in reserve
- leanLacking fat; incline
economical · forceful · punchy · direct · tight · unadorned · stripped-down · powerful
Thin and muscular
- gauntLean from deprivation
- spareHeld in reserve
- rangyTall, thin, loose-limbed
- lankyTall and ungainly thin
angular · bony · rawboned · whipcord · scraggly · haggard · thin · stringy
Able to recover quickly
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- durableAble to withstand use
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
- enduringPersisting through time
rugged · hardened · weathered · steely · gritty · unflagging · determined · unyielding
wiry
Thin and muscular
corded · strapping · athletic · sculpted · defined · chiseled · hardened · tight · firm · powerful
stringy
Full of fibers
tough · ropy · corded · threadlike · filamentous · stranded · braided · twisted · fibrous · leathery
vigorous
Having great physical energy
lean · economical · forceful · punchy · direct · tight · unadorned · stripped-down · powerful · energetic
wiry
Thin and muscular
lanky · angular · bony · rawboned · whipcord · scraggly · haggard · thin · stringy · scrawny
resilient
Able to recover quickly
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- durableAble to withstand use
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
enduring · rugged · hardened · weathered · steely · gritty · unflagging · determined · unyielding · strong
- skinnythin, slim, slender, lean, skinny
- strength wordsstrong, powerful, mighty, potent, robust
- texturessmoothness, smooth, soft, rough, roughness
- meat qualitiestender, juicy, lean, fatty, tough
- fitnessfitness, exercise, gym, workout, running
- body typesectomorph, endomorph, mesomorph, somatotype, athletic build