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 

-ˈler-ə-tē

noun

muscularly

ˈməs-kyə-lər-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of muscular

• athletic
• sinewy
• brawny
• powerful
• strong
• strapping
• sturdy

Examples of muscular in a Sentence

He has a muscular physique.

His legs are very muscular.

Recent Examples on the Web

Years later, while O’Brien was developing Rocky Horror, the two ran into each other outside a London gym where O’Brien had been scouting muscular men for the show. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026

Of course, the video of a muscular cat moonwalking across the ocean doesn’t count. — New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026

Roberts said Wednesday that the results suggested the injury was more muscular, rather than nerve related. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Across domains such as cognition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular strength, that window can end well before a person becomes unhealthy or unable to work. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing muscular

• Becker muscular dystrophy
• Becker's muscular dystrophy
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• muscular dystrophy

Rhymes for muscular

• arbuscular
• intermuscular
• neuromuscular

Kids Definition

muscular

adjective

mus·​cu·​lar ˈməs-kyə-lər 

1

a

: of, relating to, or being muscle

b

: performed by the muscles

2

: having well-developed muscles : strong

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

muscularly

ˈməs-kyə-lər-lē 

adverb