1
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in athletic
strongly and heavily built
a tough little boy who's going to be a brawny man someday
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brawny
Taurus’s strong and brawny vibe is 100% visible in Scrappy-Doo.
—
Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
People who build big and brawny machines tend to have egos to match.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
And that's how this deliciously bold, brawny Ford Nugget Terranger camper van came to be.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
This step unlocks the spice’s fat-soluble compounds, unleashing its brawny, savory-sweet flavors.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawny
Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
People who build big and brawny machines tend to have egos to match.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
And that's how this deliciously bold, brawny Ford Nugget Terranger camper van came to be.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
This step unlocks the spice’s fat-soluble compounds, unleashing its brawny, savory-sweet flavors.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawny
Adjective
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Some research shows that whole-body vibration can also help a little with certain aspects of athletic performance, like muscular strength and power and range of motion.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
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The unapologetically lurid tale of two families locked in an ever-complex cat’s cradle of class resentments and adulterous power plays also swarms with queen bees and jaw-droppingly muscular men that feel straight out of the Real Housewives playbook.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On sale in seven colorways, these relaxed, wide-leg pants have a warm cotton interior and a sleek, slightly shiny exterior that mimics retro athletic track pants.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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The campus brings together a museum designed to tell the story of Obama’s life and presidency, a Chicago Public Library branch, performance space, athletic center, outdoor gardens, playgrounds, and a sledding hill.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Midwest Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Neighbors are now calling for a stronger police presence beyond the campus itself.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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The yen touched its strongest level since October in US trading Tuesday after comments from Japanese officials, including just recently the finance minister, fueled speculation that the government may intervene in the market to prevent the currency from resuming its decline.—
Mia Glass,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This was clear evidence of an active hot corona and a powerful jet.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Elk Grove police detective on the case, Tricia Barraza, told CBS Sacramento that their bravery was powerful.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Surrounded by wild and rugged terrain, guests must ride an open-air Defender to their beach club, where plenty of rosé and lobster salads await.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Despite its extra ride height, the Outback manages to maintain its wagon-like feel (and most of its proportions) while staying true to the rugged reputation that its buyers have traditionally valued.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Venezuelans awoke the next morning to news that the tall, burly man who had ruled the country for nearly 13 years and through fraudulent elections was forcefully extradited by the Americans back to the United States to stand trial.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
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Topoak complements the burly shell construction with aluminum honeycomb floor panels and a tent body made from 300gsm poly-cotton blackout canvas designed to reflect UV rays and keep the interior cooler in hot weather.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Puka Nacua had 19 catches for 300 yards in the two games — the most yards by any player against any single opponent across the league all season — and the mighty Seahawks defense also didn’t sack Matthew Stafford once.—
Vic Tafur,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Small but mighty, this small space heater delivers a heat output worthy of much larger machines.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This big and beefy machine is lightning fast and with tremendous processing power, not to mention a gorgeous, high-quality screen and up to 24 hours of battery life.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
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This beefy battery from Jackery was a splurge that has now saved my butt.—
The Editors,
Outside,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brawny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawny. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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