Synonyms of muscular

muscular

adjective

ˈmə-skyə-lər 

1

as in athletic

marked by a well-developed musculature

Olympic runners tend to have very muscular legs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• athletic
• sinewy
• brawny
• powerful
• strong
• strapping
• sturdy
• sculpted
• robust
• wiry
• beefy
• burly
• stout
• husky
• mighty
• hulking
• hefty
• herculean
• able-bodied
• muscle-bound
• rugged
• stalwart

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• skinny
• scrawny
• weak
• feeble
• fragile
• delicate
• frail
• slender
• slight
• light
• thin
• wimpy
• debilitated
• lightweight
• weakened
• lean
• enfeebled
• weakly
• effete
• nonathletic
• slim
• willowy
• svelte
• gaunt
• emaciated
• enervated
• spare
• lank
• sylphlike
• rawboned
• scraggy

2

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

• strong
• powerful
• rugged
• stout
• mighty
• sinewy
• athletic
• brawny
• masculine
• sturdy
• stalwart
• potent
• tough
• energetic
• forceful
• healthy
• trim
• beefy
• vigorous
• virile
• burly
• hard
• husky
• forcible
• fit
• robust
• sound
• strapping
• strengthened
• puissant
• lusty
• able-bodied
• vitalized
• energized
• hale
• hearty
• red-blooded
• toughened
• invigorated
• inured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weak
• feeble
• frail
• delicate
• wimpy
• disabled
• paralyzed
• weakling
• incapacitated
• small
• impotent
• powerless
• slight
• puny
• unhealthy
• unfit
• unathletic

3

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

• aggressive
• vigorous
• emphatic
• violent
• dynamic
• energetic
• forceful
• assertive
• strenuous
• insistent
• vehement
• striking
• compelling
• clear
• full-blooded
• pointed
• resounding
• marked
• noticeable
• conspicuous
• decided
• categorical
• unequivocal
• plain
• unambiguous
• absolute
• arresting
• impelling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mild
• weak
• unemphatic
• nonassertive
• ambiguous
• guarded
• equivocal
• hesitant
• nonemphatic
• understated
• uncompelling
• wishy-washy
• halting

4

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

• rich
• strong
• robust
• potent
• big
• concentrated
• lusty
• full-bodied
• plush
• heady
• full
• heavy
• unmixed
• undiluted
• straight
• fortified
• high-octane
• enriched
• high-test

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• thin
• weak
• mild
• light
• delicate
• weakened
• thinned
• watery
• dilute
• diluted
• watered-down

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of muscular

The 2027 Silverado gets a broader, more muscular face, a new grille and redesigned LED lighting, while the bodywork has been massaged to make the truck look even more substantial. — New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026

The back of the Torcal hints at last year’s EXP 15 Concept, while the taut and muscular haunches allude to the model’s prodigious output. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2026

There was a shaman, a muscular, compact Peruvian man with bleached hair, Buddy Holly glasses, and gigantic eyes. — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

According to the Mayo Clinic, esophagitis is inflammation of the tissue lining the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2026