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
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
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Recent Examples of muscle
Health Editorial Team, Health, 18 Aug. 2025
Budapest is famous for its ornate bathhouses and spas, but its thermal waters have done more than soothe muscles and ease ailments.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 18 June 2025
But this week, Trump — always looking for a shiny object — is forcing his minions in Congress to muscle through a bill that ends the modest subsidy for the CPB (along with billions in foreign aid and other noble causes).
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for muscle
Noun
Wall balls are a cardiovascular and strength exercise with several benefits:
Improve core strength: Wall balls activate the core muscles, which support the spine.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 18 Aug. 2025
Budapest is famous for its ornate bathhouses and spas, but its thermal waters have done more than soothe muscles and ease ailments.
—Jennifer Walker, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
The early opposition is a harrowing state of play for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who can only afford to lose three votes and muscle the legislation through his razor-thin majority, assuming full attendance and unanimous Democratic opposition.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 18 June 2025
But this week, Trump — always looking for a shiny object — is forcing his minions in Congress to muscle through a bill that ends the modest subsidy for the CPB (along with billions in foreign aid and other noble causes).
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for muscle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscle
Noun
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Hall 6 puts yachts between 65 and 115 feet in the spotlight with a solid selection of superyachts, multihulls in both sail and power, and a special area for superboats and tenders to complement the parent yachts.—
Kathleen Turner,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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Join us in San Francisco to see hosts Katie Drummond, Michael Calore, and Lauren Goode shed light on the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley.—
WIRED Staff,
Wired News,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Everything will depend on this – the Russians factor in American strength.—
Franco Ordoñez,
NPR,
15 Aug. 2025
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It de-risks adoption, preserves momentum, and unlocks the distinctly human strengths AI can’t replicate.—
Maria Ross,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If Harris remains on NFI after that deadline, he will be forced to miss the first four games of the season.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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For a Dolphins team that forced just eight fumbles all of last season, Awuzie would certainly be able to boost those numbers.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Over the past two years, unions in aerospace, construction, airline and rail sectors have pushed employers for higher pay, improved conditions and better benefits amid a tight labor market.—
Nathan Gomes,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
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Erin’s winds could push up to 4 feet of storm surge onto the Outer Banks late Wednesday into Thursday.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Among its prepared dishes are beef or chicken lasagna, chicken tetrazzini, sausage and grits casserole and chicken pot pie.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Aug. 2025
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Several food items were outside of proper holding temperatures, including shredded cheese, chicken, pork and beef.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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For years, the energy system has suffered from a lack of maintenance and investment.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
22 Aug. 2025
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Tehran has long used its geography to shape energy and trade flows.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While many have expressed relief that schools are being encouraged — and in some cases coerced — to adopt policies to stem antisemitism, some are also concerned that the effort is also compromising free expression on campuses.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
23 July 2025
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The lawsuit alleges the grant conditions coerce local governments into adopting the Trump administration's policy agenda.—
Alison Dirr,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ewers was impressive finding A.J. Henning on one throw and squeezed a pass into a tight window to running back Ollie Gordon II.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
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To squeeze all this into exactly 100 days between Wrexham staging a promotion party after last season had ended and Tuesday’s cup tie against Hull is impressive.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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 26 Aug. 2025.
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