MUSCULAR Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

muscular

adjective

ˈmə-skyə-lər

Definition of muscular

as in athletic

marked by a well-developed musculature Olympic runners tend to have very muscular legs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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 muscular Across domains such as cognition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular strength, that window can end well before a person becomes unhealthy or unable to work. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 There are a number of eating behaviors, some of which might be considered disordered eating behaviors, that people trying to become muscular often engage in. — Ashleigh N. Deluca, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026 The space is pristine and remote, surrounded by woods and loons and big muscular-looking boulders for perching on and thinking deep thoughts. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026 As mentioned, South Asian modern art exceeded $100 million in auction sales in 2025, capping several years of increasingly muscular results. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for muscular

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscular

Adjective

The sixth-year forward is an athletic rebounder and has learned to fill the gaps created by defenses focusing on Wilson in the frontcourt.

— Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Baiz takes over for longtime ARC head coach Jon Osterhout, now the assistant athletic director and chief of staff of Sacramento State’s football program, his alma mater.

— JOE DAVIDSON, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of athletic

Adjective

Davis delivered a strong preseason, but he is now likely headed to a redshirt rookie season unless injuries strike at tackle.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
There’s no denying that the fall 2026 runways made a strong case for color; even the street style scene is on board, slipping into colorful shoes and sporting handbags in a variety of vibrant shades—baby pink, chartreuse, and cobalt.

— Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of strong

Adjective

Cramer also pointed to Abercrombie's aggressive share repurchases as another boost to earnings per share.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, being aggressive in what was a must-win series finale against the Washington Nationals, chose to go to his bullpen early.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggressive

Adjective

So these ingredients can significantly boost fiber intake without adding traditional fiber-rich foods.

— Amber Raiken, Verywell Health, 26 Aug. 2026
Norman is the 26th richest member of Congress, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate, according to Quiver Quantitative Live Net Worth Tracker's list.

— Jay Stahl, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of rich

Adjective

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
The White man, his sinewy, tattooed arms already beet-red from the sun, shouldered the cross from the center beam.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026

Definition of sinewy

Adjective

Experts said it was most likely caused by a partial glacier collapse that sent tons of ice and rock crashing down into the valley below, setting off a powerful landslide.

— Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Hacking incident Hugging Face was recently at the center of a hacking incident that raised concerns about the rapid evolution of powerful AI and cybersecurity tools.

— April Roach, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of powerful

Adjective

Puppies should not engage in vigorous tug-of-war games because too much tugging can create jaw or bite problems.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Second, legislation should promote vigorous competition among teams and conferences, not preserve the exclusive club of the current Power Four membership.

— U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of vigorous

Adjective

And during a second-quarter earnings call with analysts Thursday, Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman reported that K-beauty momentum continued, with robust double-digit growth in category sales compared to the same period last year.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Its celebrity pedigree is astonishing (spokespersons and fans include Jane Fonda, Martha Stewart, Andie MacDowell, Heidi Klum, etc), its offerings are robust, and many, if not most of its products, are five-star successes.

— Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of robust

Browse Nearby Words

muscling

muscular

muscularity

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Style

“Muscular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscular. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of muscular

adjective

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