brawny

adjective

ˈbrȯ-nē How to pronounce brawny (audio)
brawnier; brawniest
Synonyms of brawnynext
1
: muscular
also : strong, powerful
2
: being swollen and hard
a brawny infected foot
brawnily
ˈbrȯ-nə-lē How to pronounce brawny (audio)
adverb
brawniness
ˈbrȯ-nē-nəs How to pronounce brawny (audio)
noun

Synonyms of brawny

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Examples of brawny in a Sentence

the store manager always asked the brawniest person there to do the heavy lifting brawny arms that weren't developed in the gym but by years of work in the construction business
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Some might make the case that 2005’s brawny alien apocalypse action thriller War of the Worlds fits the bill. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026 Yet once Adam is fully in command of his sword, so to speak, and subjected to a brawny He-Man makeover that at least spares him the lank bowl cut of the original model, things get rather less spry. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026 SpaceX's Starship now holds that record, though SLS remains the brawniest vehicle ever to reach Earth orbit. — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026 In its first return to theaters since the female-forward phenomenon, the El Segundo toymaker is turning to the brawny He-Man for another box-office lift. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brawny

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brawny was in 1581

Rhymes for brawny

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Browse Nearby Words

brawniness
brawny
braws
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Cite this Entry

“Brawny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brawny. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

brawny

adjective
ˈbrȯ-nē How to pronounce brawny (audio)
brawnier; brawniest
: being swollen and hard
a brawny infected foot

More from Merriam-Webster on brawny

Nglish: Translation of brawny for Spanish Speakers

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