BRAWNY Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

brawny

adjective

ˈbrȯ-nē

as in muscular

having muscles capable of exerting great physical force the store manager always asked the brawniest person there to do the heavy lifting

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as in sinewy

marked by a well-developed musculature brawny arms that weren't developed in the gym but by years of work in the construction business

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as in athletic

strongly and heavily built a tough little boy who's going to be a brawny man someday

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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 brawny Indianapolis hosts the Combine every year, which means each February its downtown briefly becomes the world capital for strong-jawed men in athleisure who could be described as broad, brawny, buff, burly, built, boxy, or otherwise physically notable. —

Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026 In Southern California, the brawny bees are active from February through October, the Wisconsin company said. —

Sarah Linn april 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026 With tribe immunity at a premium in these early episodes, the targets may well be the players known as brainy schemers rather than brawny athletes. —

Joe Reid, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026 Gone are the days of a brawny construction worker or brainy engineer stepping up to build a sturdy shelter, winning the admiration (or the loathing) of their new tribemates. —

Kristen Geil, Outside, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brawny

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawny

Adjective

Its muscular stone-and-concrete base seems to sprout from the landscape, while the translucent, cantilevered second floor appears to tiptoe across it atop slender steel columns.

— Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Anima Kitchent’s new deal also mark a milestone step in the muscular growth of the Canary Islands’ animation industry which has expanded from one production house in 2018 to over 30 studios.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 4 June 2026