as in hunk
a physically attractive man
an iconic beefcake of Hollywood in the 1940s, he always appeared shirtless in at least one scene
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beefcake
To me, the funniest story in the world is that a 40-something-year-old Black guy from South Side Chicago went all the way to the Highlands of Scotland and found out that the only person that had his back was some 20-year-old beefcake from Alabama.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
This Lord of Darkness is a melancholy beefcake carrying the demon spawn of his neglectful lover, President Trump, a rebound from his previous boyfriend, Saddam Hussein.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2025
Only Elordi, variously treated like beefcake and brooder, seems lost trying to square Julius’ early vulnerability with the final act’s hopeful romance.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
After a decade of serving nothing but beefcake, the FDNY started including women firefighters, paramedics and EMTs in 2014.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beefcake
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
This Lord of Darkness is a melancholy beefcake carrying the demon spawn of his neglectful lover, President Trump, a rebound from his previous boyfriend, Saddam Hussein.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2025
Only Elordi, variously treated like beefcake and brooder, seems lost trying to square Julius’ early vulnerability with the final act’s hopeful romance.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
After a decade of serving nothing but beefcake, the FDNY started including women firefighters, paramedics and EMTs in 2014.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beefcake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beefcake
Noun
-
Another, from 2009, is dominated by the profile of what appears to be a guard dog gripping a black hunk of something unidentifiable.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Your home health guy is a hunk.—
Andrea Lavinthal,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Northwestern coach David Braun was prepared to take it easy on his stud left tackle in the run-up to the latter’s participation in the NFL draft process, but Caleb Tiernan wasn’t having it.—
Matthew Mowery,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Hayward was brought in from Western Kentucky and played stud while Chapman rehabbed from an injury.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What was on offer? Getting an eyeful of the range of things that Polymarket users will bet on via USDC stablecoins was enlightening.—
Rob Pegoraro,
ArsTechnica,
29 Mar. 2026
-
This weekend, fans will also get an eyeful during the NBA All-Star Weekend.—
Contessa Brewer,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
-
After years of being known as a womanizer, Barney settled down and married Robin in the show's final season.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beefcake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beefcake. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
