muscular

adjective

mus·​cu·​lar ˈmə-skyə-lər 

1

a

: of, relating to, or constituting muscle

b

: of, relating to, or performed by the muscles

2

: having well-developed musculature

3

a

: of or relating to physical strength : brawny

b

: having strength of expression or character : vigorous

muscular prose

c

: characterized by forcefulness or resolve

muscular foreign policy

d

: full-bodied

muscular wines

muscularity

ˌmə-skyə-ˈla-rə-tē 

-ˈler-ə-tē

noun

muscularly

ˈməs-kyə-lər-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• brawny
• sinewy

Examples of muscular in a Sentence

He has a muscular physique.

His legs are very muscular.

Recent Examples on the Web

At the end, after shaking out his ponytail, Haaland scored with his locks long and free, like the old muscular superhero He-Man. —Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025

The model here is Law and Order: Spiral balances the muscular doings of a special Paris crime unit with the officious prosecutors who put the bad guys away. —Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025

The body was subtly but significantly massaged, adding new curves and muscular swells to the Virage’s boxy lines — all coming together at a front fascia worthy of the automotive brawler the Vantage was. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2025

The base is loving the party's muscular signs of life and wants more. —Axios, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing muscular

• Becker muscular dystrophy
• Becker's muscular dystrophy
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• muscular dystrophy

Kids Definition

muscular

adjective

mus·​cu·​lar ˈməs-kyə-lər 

1

a

: of, relating to, or being muscle

b

: performed by the muscles

2

: having well-developed muscles : strong

Medical Definition

muscular

adjective

mus·​cu·​lar ˈməs-kyə-lər 

1

a

: of, relating to, or constituting muscle

b

: of, relating to, or performed by the muscles

2

: having well-developed musculature

muscularly

ˈməs-kyə-lər-lē 

adverb