Muscular — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈmə-skyə-lər/ mus·cu·lar

Meaning & Definition of Muscular

Muscular (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or constituting muscle
  2. of, relating to, or performed by the muscles
  3. having well-developed musculature

Muscular (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. marked by a well-developed musculature

    "Olympic runners tend to have very muscular legs"

    similar: brawny, sinewy
    related: wiry, powerful, strong, beefy, burly, hefty, hulking, husky, able-bodied, athletic, herculean, mighty, robust, rugged, stalwart, stout, strapping, sturdy, muscle-bound, sculpted
    opposite: scrawny, skinny
    near: nonathletic, debilitated, delicate, effete, enervated, enfeebled, feeble, fragile, frail, weak, weakened, weakly, wimpy, light, lightweight, slight, lean, slender, slim, svelte, sylphlike, thin, willowy, emaciated, gaunt, lank, rawboned, scraggy, spare

  2. having muscles capable of exerting great physical force

    "a muscular superhero who can easily lift a ton or more"

    similar: brawny, rugged, sinewy, stalwart, stout, strong
    related: forceful, forcible, mighty, potent, powerful, puissant, able-bodied, athletic, fit, trim, beefy, burly, husky, strapping, masculine, virile, hard, inured, strengthened, sturdy, tough, toughened, energetic, energized, invigorated, lusty, red-blooded, robust, vigorous, vitalized, hale, healthy, hearty, sound
    opposite: delicate, feeble, frail, weak, weakling, wimpy
    near: disabled, incapacitated, paralyzed, impotent, powerless, puny, slight, small, unathletic, unfit, unhealthy

  3. marked by or uttered with forcefulness

    "a presidential speech that promises to be a muscular enunciation of the nation's foreign policy"

    similar: aggressive, assertive, dynamic, emphatic, energetic, forceful, full-blooded, resounding, strenuous, vehement, vigorous, violent
    related: decided, insistent, marked, pointed, absolute, categorical, clear, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal, arresting, compelling, conspicuous, impelling, noticeable, striking
    opposite: nonassertive, nonemphatic, unemphatic
    near: guarded, mild, uncompelling, weak, wishy-washy, ambiguous, equivocal, halting, hesitant, understated

  4. having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor)

    "a muscular red wine that goes especially well with beef"

    similar: big, concentrated, full, full-bodied, heady, lusty, plush, potent, rich, robust, strong
    related: heavy, straight, undiluted, unmixed, high-octane, high-test, enriched, fortified
    opposite: delicate, light, mild, thin, thinned, weak, weakened
    near: dilute, diluted, watered-down, watery

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Muscular

The most common words with a similar meaning to Muscular:

brawny, sinewy, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong, aggressive, assertive, dynamic, emphatic, energetic, forceful, full-blooded, resounding, strenuous, vehement, vigorous, violent, big, concentrated, full, full-bodied, heady, lusty, plush, potent, rich, robust

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Muscular

Words with the opposite meaning of Muscular:

scrawny, skinny, delicate, feeble, frail, weak, weakling, wimpy, nonassertive, nonemphatic, unemphatic, light, mild, thin, thinned, weakened

Related Words for Muscular

wiry, powerful, beefy, burly, hefty, hulking, husky, able-bodied, athletic, herculean, mighty, strapping, sturdy, muscle-bound, sculpted, forcible, puissant, fit, trim, masculine, virile, hard, inured, strengthened, tough, toughened, energized, invigorated, red-blooded, vitalized

Near Antonyms of Muscular

nonathletic, debilitated, effete, enervated, enfeebled, fragile, weakly, lightweight, slight, lean, slender, slim, svelte, sylphlike, willowy, emaciated, gaunt, lank, rawboned, scraggy, spare, disabled, incapacitated, paralyzed, impotent, powerless, puny, small, unathletic, unfit

Word Forms of Muscular

Derived words: muscularity (noun), muscularly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Muscular

First known use: 1670

Words & Phrases Containing Muscular

muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Frequently Asked Questions about Muscular

What does "Muscular" mean?

"Muscular" means of, relating to, or constituting muscle. As an adjective, it is defined as: of, relating to, or constituting muscle. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Muscular"?

Other words for "Muscular" include brawny, sinewy, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong, aggressive and assertive. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Muscular" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Muscular"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Muscular". Common alternatives include brawny, sinewy, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong, aggressive, assertive, dynamic and emphatic.

What is the opposite of "Muscular"?

Antonyms of "Muscular" include scrawny, skinny, delicate, feeble, frail, weak, weakling and wimpy. Near antonyms include nonathletic, debilitated, effete and enervated.

How do you use "Muscular" in a sentence?

Examples of "Muscular" in a sentence: "Olympic runners tend to have very muscular legs"; "a muscular superhero who can easily lift a ton or more"; "a presidential speech that promises to be a muscular enunciation of the nation's foreign policy".

Is "Muscular" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Muscular" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Muscular"?

"Muscular" is pronounced /ˈmə-skyə-lər/ and divided into syllables as mus·cu·lar.

What is the origin of the word "Muscular"?

First known use: 1670.