MUSCLE-BOUND Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

muscle-bound

adjective

Definition of muscle-bound

as in muscular

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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-bound But their skeletons seemed peculiar—stocky and muscle-bound, with mashups of features seen in various groups of modern-day mammals. — Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscle-bound

Adjective

Coming in the next issue, our White House correspondent Linda Feldmann reports on why that muscular approach – supported by his loyal base – might continue regardless of who wins control of Congress.

— Mark Trumbull, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 2026
The team revised Rotta’s face and coloring to bring him closer to Jabba while refining his muscular physique.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of muscular

Adjective

Gwath also spoke with athletic director DeWayne Peevy about the bigger-picture goals at DePaul, which has improved from three wins in 2023-24 — the season before Holtmann arrived — to 16-16 and 8-12 in the Big East last season.

— Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
But, the threat of recourse by the conference, along with a federal lawsuit filed by the SEC that very same week, saw the LSU athletic department make the decision to keep them off the team.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of athletic

Adjective

Netanyahu, who has close ties with politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties, has resisted attempts to end the exemptions.

— Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
And that includes his warning that TV news has been corrupted by the agendas of the powerful, wealthy billionaires who now control a large portion of the media.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of powerful

Adjective

Putting his lean and sinewy physicality to disquieting use, McNairy makes Wilson both unreadable and coldly transparent, giving him equal parts menace and magnetism.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
One of Nebel’s major works was still there — The Wrestlers, a huge plaster work of two sinewy men locked in combat, which had been his thesis as a student.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 30 July 2026

Definition of sinewy

Adjective

Now Calvin is the burly family fisherman, puttering away on his boat, scooping up chunks of ice from nearby glaciers to sell to vodka distilleries.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Quigley, bearded and burly but soft-edged with a deliberative way of speaking that can serve a range of emotions, is brilliant, and Patel balances him admirably.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of burly

Adjective

The Brewers led the majors with 103 wins in the regular season and went 11-2 in the postseason, including seven comeback wins and a sweep of the mighty Dodgers in the NLCS.

— Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Pumpkin seeds and walnuts are two small but mighty foods packed with blood sugar-lowering nutrients.

— Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of mighty

Adjective

Well, now meet its beefier cousin, the 2028 Mercedes-AMG GT SUV, an equally powerful, ultra-fast-charging electric people-hauler.

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2026
Steaks — particularly ribeye, sirloin and strip — brown faster with another layer of beefy flavor.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of beefy

Browse Nearby Words

muscle

muscle-bound

muscle car

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Style

“Muscle-bound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscle-bound. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of muscle-bound

adjective

Example Sentences

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