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
Relevance
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
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 muscle
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Such a deep chunk of his neck muscle has been torn away, Kikta can see bones in the boy’s spine.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Ronald Brownstein, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
Robertson responded by snapping in a rebound after Matt Duchene — who has seven points in four games — muscled a shot from just outside the crease that ricocheted off Wallstedt.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muscle
Noun
To say that Star Wars fans are happy to see the big guy flex his muscles onscreen once again is an understatement.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Such a deep chunk of his neck muscle has been torn away, Kikta can see bones in the boy’s spine.
—Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Verb
Today’s conservatives are resurrecting the positions that Reynolds and his allies in the 1980s could not muscle past the internal GOP opposition in Congress and the Cabinet.
—Ronald Brownstein, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
Robertson responded by snapping in a rebound after Matt Duchene — who has seven points in four games — muscled a shot from just outside the crease that ricocheted off Wallstedt.
—CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for muscle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscle
Noun
-
Data center projects are likely to migrate to parts of Europe with lower power costs, creating winners and losers across the continent, the experts said.—
April Roach,Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
Jeffers flashed his power again, hitting the go-ahead homer Sunday and finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored as the Twins avoided a series sweep.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The bird has long symbolized American values like strength, freedom and independence, said Kochersperger.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
American oak trees symbolize the enduring strength and resilience of our people and nation.—
Joseph Bonasia,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The economic loss could rise to as much as 100 trillion won if chip production disruptions force Samsung to scrap semiconductor wafers already in production.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
The fire destroyed two structures — a cabin and an equipment shed — and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees, who were rescued by a Santa Barbara County Fire Department helicopter.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
As criticism over competitive disparities intensified following the meet, pro-trans activists pushed back with the familiar argument that inclusion matters more than results, while opponents argued female athletes lose opportunities in the process.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Williams happened to be passing by as the young dancer was pushing her car down the highway with a friend, and Williams along with his manager stopped to help and was quickly charmed.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Shows end and fame fades, but the beef stands will stay slinging.—
Zareen Syed,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
-
Each tortilla is filled with beef, peppers, onions, black beans, and two types of cheese, then top with extra sauce and cheese.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Insects such as migrating monarch butterflies and some other animals, such as hummingbirds, depend on energy-rich nectar for fuel.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Adjust one workflow, boundary, or wellness choice that keeps draining energy.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Preeminent leaders don’t coerce.—
Gerald J. Leonard,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
The lawsuit also claims officers choked Day and slammed him against a wall, eventually coercing him into confessing to killing Irving and Garcia.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
On the Right, Israel is being squeezed by a smaller faction of the Make America Great Again movement that wants to pare back all American foreign aid.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
-
Gas prices are continuing to squeeze drivers at the pump.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 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 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
