1
as in athletic
marked by a well-developed musculature
Olympic runners tend to have very muscular legs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strong
having muscles capable of exerting great physical force
a muscular superhero who can easily lift a ton or more
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3
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
a presidential speech that promises to be a muscular enunciation of the nation's foreign policy
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4
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor)
a muscular red wine that goes especially well with beef
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muscular
His upper body looks more muscular, thicker and wider than in years past.
—
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2026
In contrast, if passed by the Illinois General Assembly, Pritzker’s more muscular approach might actually make a difference.
—Michael Schill, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
As if moving his muscular deadweight weren’t a task itself for the two girls, there’s a point where Jinx falls onto Margo and pins her underwater in the tub.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Featuring Steven Bernstein on brass, Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, Douglas Wieselman on winds and guitar, Briggan Krauss on saxophone and guitar, and Tony Scherr on bass, these arrangements are more muscular and robust than many of their original incarnations.
—David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for muscular
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2026
In contrast, if passed by the Illinois General Assembly, Pritzker’s more muscular approach might actually make a difference.
—Michael Schill, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
As if moving his muscular deadweight weren’t a task itself for the two girls, there’s a point where Jinx falls onto Margo and pins her underwater in the tub.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Featuring Steven Bernstein on brass, Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, Douglas Wieselman on winds and guitar, Briggan Krauss on saxophone and guitar, and Tony Scherr on bass, these arrangements are more muscular and robust than many of their original incarnations.
—David Harris, SPIN, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for muscular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscular
Adjective
-
Julian Champagnie took over Harrison Barnes’ starting spot in San Antonio and has been an athletic upgrade who is durable and reliable while providing accurate volume shooting.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
In a presentation for young athletes — and for the pro teams and college athletic departments that might invite him to speak — Stripling’s firm uses his story of a baseball prospect that got a $900,000 up-front payment and spent the $500,000 after taxes on a red Lamborghini.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The hovercraft tragedy underscores the rapidly changing weather conditions, dangerous waves and strong winds associated with Lake Baikal, reports indicated.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
Beyond keeping bugs away from your guests and food, the zapper also cuts down on the need for bug sprays, which can leave behind strong smells or residue.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The new reality finds those legacy players, with the single exception of Disney, playing defense as tech’s flywheel spins faster, and their pursuit of TV ad dollars becomes even more aggressive.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
To survive these transformations, rich states have resorted among other things to the ever greater exploitation, not only of poor states, but also of the human and ecological capital housed within them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Edmond Safra was that rich banker.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Theron, meanwhile, hurls herself into the sinewy action sequences that have increasingly been her home turf over the past two decades, flinging herself down hills and into rivers and navigating some precarious rock-climbing terrain.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
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That brisk storytelling economy is a good fit for Theron’s own terse, sinewy performance style.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The powerful monetary incentives provided to our politicians and their PACs have compelled legislative compliance to their global agenda.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
The company said powerful AI systems require enormous computing resources, most of which still depend on chips designed by American and allied firms.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Higher amounts of weekly moderate-to-vigorous activity—about 10 hours a week—were linked to substantially lower cardiovascular risk.—
Allison Forsyth,
Health,
22 May 2026
-
Its war-like rhythms and relentless pulse give the work a vigorous sense of liberation.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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The project’s development trajectory has been notably robust.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
In Columbus Park, Cà Phê has grown from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar cafe, serving robust Vietnamese espresso alongside inventive seasonal drinks featuring flavors like matcha, Thai iced tea, and Sichuan peppercorn.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muscular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscular. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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