1
as in power
muscular strength
I'm going to need someone with real muscle to help me move all this furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strength
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task
at the time the military lacked the muscle to fight two wars at once
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to force
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
he was muscled out of command by his opponents at military headquarters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muscle
Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
With any weight loss, no matter the method, people lose not only fat but also some muscle and bone.
—Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
With Johnson muscling inside or hitting jumpers long and short, and with considerable help from Mikey Williams and Mark Lavrenov, Sacramento State outlasted Montana State 83-80 with a thrilling finish in front of another full house of nearly 3,000 at sparkling Hornet Pavilion.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muscle
Noun
Lepley studies how muscles of the upper leg shut down after a knee injury — a process called muscle inhibition.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
With any weight loss, no matter the method, people lose not only fat but also some muscle and bone.
—Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Bigs easily muscle him out of the way in switch situations, and offensive players go right through his body en route to the rim.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
With Johnson muscling inside or hitting jumpers long and short, and with considerable help from Mikey Williams and Mark Lavrenov, Sacramento State outlasted Montana State 83-80 with a thrilling finish in front of another full house of nearly 3,000 at sparkling Hornet Pavilion.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muscle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscle
Noun
-
Until crude vulgarians like Miller came along, no prominent American political figure would claim on our behalf a right to use our power for purely selfish ends, at the expense of other democratic states and foreign peoples.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Calling out corporate entities and concentration of power as enemies also appears to be a winning strategy for Democrats in their messaging tactics.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and maintain bone strength.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
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There is strength in coming together to pray, Gomez said.—
Anissa Rivera,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Beijing’s national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of dissidents; forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband; and neutering the city’s once-raucous political scene.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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The defense forced three turnovers, Jason Myers kicked a Super Bowl-record five field goals, and running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards to earn most valuable player as the Seahawks finished the season with 10 consecutive victories.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The decisions centered around the dates for quarterfinal and semifinal games, as well as the move to push the championship game back to even further in January has drawn some backlash.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Its forecast for profit in the current quarter fell short of analysts' expectations as an industrywide shortage of memory pushes some handset makers to cut back on orders.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Special cocktails and food like Wagyu beef sliders will be served.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Here, chef Tiago Valente offers menus that might include Maronesa beef served alongside truffled potatoes, scarlet prawns with rice and seaweed, or an elevated caldeirada, or fish stew, all with a view of the museum’s sculpture garden.—
Michelle Tchea,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Ukrainian energy minister Denys Shmyal said the Russians had attacked the backbone of the country’s energy grid, including high voltage 750 kV and 330 kV overhead lines and two thermal power plants.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The two former Soviet republics, Armenia and Azerbaijan, agreed under the deal to reopen key transportation routes and bolster cooperation with the United States in energy, technology and economy.—
MICHELLE L. PRICE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The intelligence reports warn that 764 and its many offshoots have expanded into a transnational, online network that glorifies violence and tries to coerce people, often minors, to hurt themselves or others.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Criminals usually target people who have publicly boasted about their crypto winnings, and physically coerce them to give up their Bitcoin key.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Impacciatore, squeezed into a skin-tight Power Rangers suit, performed an entire clowning routine where she’s accosted by abstract embodiments of various winter sports throughout history.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
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Sometimes, producers work with players to squeeze their take into the allotted time.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Muscle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscle. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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