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

Each venom is a unique cocktail of peptides and proteins that can cause muscular paralysis, tissue destruction, cardiac arrest, or other effects. — Steve Midway, STAT, 16 July 2026

The newfound longevity of elite soccer players has been made possible by advances in sports medicine, diet and analytics that measure everything from biomechanics and heart rate to muscular output and sleep cycles, all in real time. — Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

There are some broad-brush moments in the dialogue, yes, but even these are applied with a muscular flourish. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

For the role, O’Connor had to develop his racket skills and a more muscular physique, splitting time between the tennis court and the gym. — Nick Tabor, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 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