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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The suspect has been described as a male in his late 20s, approximately 5-foot-6, about 130 pounds, and muscular. — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Lagree’s Megaformer, introduced in the early 2000s, has two sliding platforms and was built for higher-intensity work that develops muscular endurance. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026 Its muscular composite and Kevlar exterior is finished in a glossy, factory-correct shade of Rosso Corsa, though the car did spend a few years, toward the beginning of its life, painted silver, according to the listing. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 June 2026 Crisis and renewal are strictly a matter of marketing now, a fiction that permanently assigns the Democrats the role of technocrats managing national decline while Republicans get to stand for muscular optimism and economic expansion. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for muscular

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muscular

Adjective

Coming in August is the Patriot Games, an athletic competition for high school students, and a Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, a free IndyCar event scheduled for August 22-23.

— Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 July 2026
But for women suing the NCAA, universities and athletic conferences over past transgender-athlete policies, the ruling may prove to be an important turning point.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of athletic

Adjective

Beyond California, scientists are raising alarms over the planet’s warming oceans, which — coupled with a strong El Niño — could increase temperatures for land dwellers in the coming weeks.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Weather aside, Fall/Winter 2026 Haute Couture Week, running from July 6 to 9, will feature shows from 30 houses, compared with FW25’s 27-strong line-up.

— Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 6 July 2026

Definition of strong

Adjective

The goal is gentle smoke and indirect heat rather than aggressive flames.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Right now, the multi-trillion-dollar global apparel industry is undergoing an aggressive technological shift, adopting artificial intelligence as a production standard rather than an experimental pilot.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 July 2026

Definition of aggressive

Adjective

Soak in the mineral-rich waters of nearby Travertine Hot Springs and observe a decaying mining town at Bodie State Historic Park.

— Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Key Takeaways Omega-3s can be obtained through a balanced diet, especially by eating seafood rich in DHA and EPA, such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel.

— Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 1 July 2026

Definition of rich

Adjective

At the center of it all is Brent Charles’ sinewy Caius Martius Coriolanus, who runs through the play like a human scythe.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
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

Definition of sinewy

Adjective

Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
The brothers bonded over the game, but in his work, Grant so frequently provided a microphone for the voices a powerful organization would rather hush.

— Sam McDowell July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Definition of powerful

Adjective

Before the earthquakes, the government generally defended its national health system as robust, blaming shortcomings on sanctions imposed by the United States.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
The country also offers robust infrastructure, with new projects such as the Hafeet Rail, enhanced digital connectivity, favorable tax policies, and a low crime rate.

— Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026

Definition of robust

Browse Nearby Words

muscling

muscular

muscularity

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Muscular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muscular. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of muscular

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on muscular

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes