Synonyms of muscle

muscle 1 of 2

noun

ˈmə-səl 

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

• power
• beef
• energy
• brawn
• force
• main
• vigor
• potency
• might
• sinew
• thew
• puissance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakness
• impotence
• impotency
• debility
• feebleness
• infirmity
• frailty
• debilitation
• faintness
• enfeeblement
• frailness

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

• power
• strength
• energy
• capacity
• vigor
• capability
• force
• horsepower
• potency
• sinew
• firepower
• might
• competence
• competency
• potence
• puissance
• aptitude
• effectiveness
• usefulness
• adequacy
• effectualness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakness
• impotence
• disability
• impotency
• powerlessness
• inability
• incapacity
• incompetence
• incompetency
• incapability
• inaptitude
• paralysis
• ineffectiveness
• uselessness
• ineffectuality
• inefficacy
• helplessness
• incapableness
• ineffectualness
• inefficaciousness

muscle

2 of 2

verb

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

• force
• coerce
• compel
• obligate
• pressure
• drive
• oblige
• sandbag
• constrain
• press
• blackmail
• blackjack
• intimidate
• bully
• impress
• dragoon
• impel
• cow
• make
• twist one's arm
• menace
• drag
• threaten
• high-pressure
• bulldoze
• browbeat
• terrorize
• shame
• badger
• hector
• hound
• harass

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• permit
• allow
• move
• talk (into)
• induce
• win (over)
• satisfy
• convince
• argue
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)

2

as in to push

to force one's way

muscling straight through the packed crowd of people waiting to board the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• push
• squeeze
• elbow
• bull
• shoulder
• press
• bore
• shove
• jam
• thrust
• crash
• jostle
• bulldoze
• ram

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of muscle

Noun

Most uncomplicated muscle strains improve with symptomatic treatment, but some could develop neurological complications. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Peptides are small chains of amino acids that serve as building blocks for proteins and help regulate muscle growth, hormone signaling, enzyme formation and immune function. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

The actor has also been muscling his way into movies, appearing as part of the ensemble of the 2023 Fast & Furious movie Fast 10 and in 2024’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare from Lionsgate. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

In 2003, Kim Cattrall bared her abs and muscled lower back in a glittering naked dress. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Editor Peter Sokolowski breaks down a number of body parts with metaphorical uses as verbs, from head to toe.

Transcript:

Many parts of the body can be used as verbs in either a physical or a metaphorical sense. You can head a company, but if things go wrong you'll have to shoulder the blame, or face your investors. A good leader backs their employees, but if you don't toe the line you might get skinned. Did you muscle your way into that job? You might eye someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to finger a suspect. But if you need to get out of town, try thumbing a ride. You can ride with me if you can stomach the thought. I don't always sing along to the radio, but you might see me mouthing the words.