muscle-bound
adjective
mus·cle-bound
ˈmə-səl-ˌbau̇nd 
1
: having some of the muscles tense and enlarged and of impaired elasticity sometimes as a result of excessive exercise
2
: lacking in flexibility : rigid
Examples of muscle-bound in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But their skeletons seemed peculiar—stocky and muscle-bound, with mashups of features seen in various groups of modern-day mammals.
—
Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022
Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'muscle-bound.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near muscle-bound
Cite this Entry
“Muscle-bound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muscle-bound. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
muscle-bound
adjective
mus·cle-bound
ˈməs-əl-ˌbau̇nd
: having abnormally large muscles that do not move and stretch easily
Medical Definition
muscle-bound
adjective
mus·cle-bound
ˈməs-əl-ˌbau̇nd
: having some of the muscles tense and enlarged and of impaired elasticity sometimes as a result of excessive exercise
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