muscle 1 of 2

noun

ˈmə-səl How to pronounce muscle (audio)
Definition of musclenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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
Noun
While dieting can accelerate that muscle loss, the new study found that creatine monohydrate helped counter the effect. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The brand, which already crossed the 1-billion-euro sales threshold, has the muscle to do so. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
Apopka continues its rebuilding stage but watch out for big defensive lineman Demetri Tarpley, who is 6-3 and has muscled up to 305 pounds with an offseason program. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026 The action spilled to the outside, and Wagner muscled Dragon Lee back into the ring with a powerbomb. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for muscle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscle
  1. power
  2. strength
  3. force
  4. push
  5. beef
  6. energy
  7. coerce
  8. squeeze
Noun
  • Just ask the Taliban, now back in charge in Afghanistan after being driven from power.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • That’s not to mention what could be a massively consequential midterm election, fueled by AI anxiety among voters, that could test the bounds of their power.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of power
Noun
  • Anton’s investment in The Creatives reinforces the financial strength of the group and provides additional access to equity financing.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Yet Washington remains focused on containing China’s rise rather than investing in the strengths of America and our allies.
    — Patrick McHenry, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of strength
Verb
  • The companies and economies that endure will be the ones that can balance growth, resilience and sustainability—and change before outside pressure forces them to.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Doe alleged the defendants snorted ketamine off her body and forced her to do the same off theirs.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of force
Verb
  • Bryan pushed back at the time, arguing that the song spoke to both sides of the aisle and urging fans not to let social media narratives divide them.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Treasurer Erick Russell has also pushed changes designed to prevent active bank accounts from being wrongly classified as abandoned.
    — Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of push
Noun
  • The beachside Kayuputi restaurant is easily one of the island’s best, offering extravagances like wagyu beef carpaccio and Sturia caviar.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Wagyu beef and lamb koobideh are formed into bite-size, plump spheres doused in a sweet tomato and sumac glaze.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of beef
Noun
  • One highlight for me was my session with an energy healer named Djik Dewa, who balances out the body’s chakras with gentle massage, chanting, and deep eye contact—a disconcerting but powerful experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Alito said he was not required to recuse himself and that the energy shares in question were inherited by his wife.
    — Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of energy
Verb
  • Moreover, the short extension of the trade armistice only underscores its fragility; Beijing is still squeezing flows of rare earths to extract concessions from the US and coerce its allies, including Japan.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The state did not coerce confessions from Allen during his incarceration.
    — Jenny Porter Tilley, IndyStar, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of coerce
Verb
  • To close deals, some US homebuilders are resorting to price cuts and mortgage rate buy downs to attract buyers, squeezing profit margins that are already compressed by high raw material, labor, and financing expenses.
    — , CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Mounting losses, bankruptcies Besides the cost of raw materials, there are many other factors squeezing farmers.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeeze

Browse Nearby Words

murrains
muscle
muscle-bound
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Cite this Entry

“Muscle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscle. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on muscle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about muscle

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