muscular
adjective
mus·cu·lar ˈmə-skyə-lər 
1
a
: of, relating to, or constituting muscle
b
: of, relating to, or performed by the muscles
2
: having well-developed musculature
3
a
: of or relating to physical strength : brawny
b
: having strength of expression or character : vigorous
muscular prose
c
: characterized by forcefulness or resolve
muscular foreign policy
d
: full-bodied
muscular wines
muscularity
ˌmə-skyə-ˈla-rə-tē
noun -ˈler-ə-tē
muscularly
ˈməs-kyə-lər-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- brawny
- sinewy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He has a muscular physique. His legs are very muscular.
Recent Examples on the Web At 6 feet, 192 pounds, Jefferson is muscular as wide receivers go. 
Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 After x-rays, she was told her injuries were muscular and was sent home to recuperate. James Freeman, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 There had been muscular women in tennis before Serena; Martina Navratilova immediately comes to mind for revolutionizing a new kind of no-frills fitness and power that made her one of the best to ever play the game. Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2022 Corden replied incredulously about the famously muscular actor. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 The next day, video near a restaurant caught a muscular man sucker-punching another man, leaving him in a coma. Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 But that wishful thinking has come up against muscular rhetoric from Federal Reserve officials, and the reality that policymakers will be wary of declaring victory prematurely. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Joshua Cooper, 28, lives in Little Falls, New Jersey, and has Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disorder that impacts motor skills. Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2022 The Russian show illustrated the story with clips of Mr. Herrington wearing only Speedo-like briefs and wrestling with another muscular, similarly clad man in a locker room. New York Times, 21 Aug. 2022 See More
Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 After x-rays, she was told her injuries were muscular and was sent home to recuperate. James Freeman, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 There had been muscular women in tennis before Serena; Martina Navratilova immediately comes to mind for revolutionizing a new kind of no-frills fitness and power that made her one of the best to ever play the game. Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2022 Corden replied incredulously about the famously muscular actor. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 The next day, video near a restaurant caught a muscular man sucker-punching another man, leaving him in a coma. Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 But that wishful thinking has come up against muscular rhetoric from Federal Reserve officials, and the reality that policymakers will be wary of declaring victory prematurely. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Joshua Cooper, 28, lives in Little Falls, New Jersey, and has Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disorder that impacts motor skills. Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2022 The Russian show illustrated the story with clips of Mr. Herrington wearing only Speedo-like briefs and wrestling with another muscular, similarly clad man in a locker room. New York Times, 21 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Phrases Containing muscular
Kids Definition
muscular
adjective
mus·cu·lar ˈmə-skyə-lər
1
: of, relating to, or done by the muscles
muscular strength
muscular activity
2
: having large and strong muscles
muscular legs
a muscular athlete
Medical Definition
muscular
adjective
mus·cu·lar ˈməs-kyə-lər
1
a
: of, relating to, or constituting muscle
b
: of, relating to, or performed by the muscles
2
: having well-developed musculature
muscular
adjective
1
as in athletic
marked by a well-developed musculature Olympic runners tend to have very muscular legs Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- athletic
- sinewy
- brawny
- powerful
- strong
- wiry
- strapping
- sculpted
- sturdy
- robust
- beefy
- burly
- hulking
- stout
- husky
- muscle-bound
- mighty
- hefty
- herculean
- rugged
- stalwart
- able-bodied
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- skinny
- scrawny
- weak
- feeble
- slender
- fragile
- delicate
- frail
- wimpy
- lean
- thin
- lightweight
- slight
- debilitated
- weakened
- enfeebled
- light
- nonathletic
- effete
- weakly
- willowy
- slim
- svelte
- gaunt
- emaciated
- enervated
- lank
- spare
- rawboned
- sylphlike
- scraggy
2
as in strong
having muscles capable of exerting great physical force a muscular superhero who can easily lift a ton or more Synonyms & Similar Words
- strong
- powerful
- stout
- sinewy
- rugged
- athletic
- brawny
- mighty
- masculine
- sturdy
- energetic
- beefy
- stalwart
- virile
- forceful
- burly
- potent
- tough
- vigorous
- husky
- healthy
- trim
- forcible
- strapping
- fit
- robust
- hard
- puissant
- sound
- vitalized
- strengthened
- lusty
- toughened
- hale
- energized
- able-bodied
- invigorated
- red-blooded
- inured
- hearty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weak
- feeble
- delicate
- frail
- wimpy
- weakling
- disabled
- paralyzed
- small
- challenged
- impotent
- incapacitated
- powerless
- puny
- slight
- unhealthy
- unfit
- unathletic
3
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness a presidential speech that promises to be a muscular enunciation of the nation's foreign policy Synonyms & Similar Words
- aggressive
- vigorous
- emphatic
- violent
- dynamic
- energetic
- forceful
- assertive
- strenuous
- insistent
- vehement
- striking
- compelling
- pointed
- full-blooded
- clear
- marked
- resounding
- noticeable
- conspicuous
- categorical
- unequivocal
- plain
- decided
- unambiguous
- absolute
- arresting
- impelling
- categoric
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unemphatic
- weak
- mild
- nonassertive
- ambiguous
- nonemphatic
- guarded
- uncompelling
- equivocal
- halting
- understated
- hesitant
- wishy-washy
4
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) a muscular red wine that goes especially well with beef Synonyms & Similar Words
- rich
- strong
- robust
- potent
- lusty
- big
- full-bodied
- concentrated
- plush
- heady
- full
- heavy
- straight
- unmixed
- undiluted
- high-octane
- fortified
- enriched
- high-test
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weak
- thin
- mild
- delicate
- light
- weakened
- thinned
- watery
- dilute
- diluted
- watered-down