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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brawny
The band steadily climbed the charts in its native Australia, pairing its brawny rock with sincere and outspoken political activism.
—
Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The horn section sounds deep and crisp, punching out riffs on Kupka’s brawny bari foundation.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Thanks to all that power, the brawny cruiser could sprint from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds and reach a top speed of 181 mph.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2026
The actor Nicholas Christopher—brawny, bald, with a perpetually cocked eyebrow that brings to mind Yul Brynner—strode through the aisles of Tashkent Supermarket in Brighton Beach one afternoon.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawny
Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The horn section sounds deep and crisp, punching out riffs on Kupka’s brawny bari foundation.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Thanks to all that power, the brawny cruiser could sprint from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds and reach a top speed of 181 mph.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2026
The actor Nicholas Christopher—brawny, bald, with a perpetually cocked eyebrow that brings to mind Yul Brynner—strode through the aisles of Tashkent Supermarket in Brighton Beach one afternoon.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brawny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brawny
Adjective
-
Hamilton, writing as Pacificus, reaffirmed his typically muscular reading of executive authority.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
His style of play — muscular, bustling, old-school — stands in stark opposition to his bleached hair.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The study makes clear that the $194 million figure encompasses the economic impact of the entire Sac State athletic program with football at the FBS level for one academic year.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Perrotti manages more than 1,100 athletic events annually and leads fundraising and community partnerships that support athletic programs at the high school.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Keller Mayor Armin Mizani has a strong lead over former Tarrant County GOP Treasurer Fred Tate in the Republican primary for state House in District 98 after the early voting, according to unofficial results.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
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In addition to seeing stronger hair over time, she’s noticed that adding this formula to her regimen has helped improve her energy levels and balance her hormone levels.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On Thursday, powerful storms swept across the southern Plains, bringing numerous tornado threats from Texas to the Midwest.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Burkle alleges that Anderson used the billionaire’s network and a seed investment to build a powerful lobbying firm — only to later divert Burkle’s share of the profits to himself.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Make sure to balance class with rustic touches for the perfect mix of rugged luxury.—
Kylie Petty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
-
This rugged balance ball is made with anti-burst polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and has a 600-pound weight capacity.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Thule runs a little taller and wider than your average stroller thanks to its burly rear wheels and stocky frame.—
Erica Zazo,
Outside,
20 Feb. 2026
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Although burly striker Pio Esposito equalized with an opportunist finish 10 minutes later, the home side picked off Inter with two goals in quick succession in the second half.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Varieties like Tall Telephone and Champion of England live up to their mighty names, and these can grow upwards of 6 feet or more.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
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Maddie Brown scored the Tommies’ final goal of the winter midway through the second period, but her tally barely made a dent in the mighty titan’s armor.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Crowned with a cheesy cornbread crust, this beefy pot pie has just the right amount of kick.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The 14-inch version with the beefier M5 Max chip starts at $3,599, up from $3,199, while the 16-inch configuration starts at $3,899, an increase from $3,499.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brawny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brawny. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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