a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament, the source of strength, power, or vigor, toughness of character; determination

strain every sinew, sinew and bone, sinewy muscles

Formal and Informal Expressions of sinew

In different contexts, you can replace 'sinew' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'tendon, ligament' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'string, rope' is a commonplace synonym.

sinew: Explore its Definition & Usage

sinew Definition

1a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament
2the source of strength, power, or vigor
3toughness of character; determination

Using sinew: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "sinew" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The sinews in his legs were strained from the long run.
Example
The sinews of the economy are small businesses.
Example
He showed great sinew in the face of adversity.

sinew Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for sinew

Phrases with sinew

strain every sinew
to make a great effort to achieve something
Example
She strained every sinew to finish the marathon.
sinew and bone
the basic structure or foundation of something
Example
The sinew and bone of the company is its dedicated employees.
sinewy muscles
muscles that are lean and strong
Example
He had sinewy muscles from years of weightlifting.

Origins of sinew

from Old English 'seono', meaning 'sinew, tendon'

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Summary: sinew in Brief

Sinew [ˈsɪnjuː] refers to tough fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone or bone to bone. It can also mean the source of strength or toughness of character. Examples include 'The sinews in his legs were strained from the long run' and 'He showed great sinew in the face of adversity.' Phrases like 'strain every sinew' and 'sinew and bone' add emphasis to effort and foundation, respectively.