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muscular

American  
[muhs-kyuh-ler] / ˈmʌs kyə lər /

adjective

  1. of or relating to muscle or the muscles.

    muscular strain.

  2. dependent on or affected by the muscles.

    muscular strength.

  3. having well-developed muscles; brawny.

    Synonyms:
    sturdy, stalwart, powerful, strong, sinewy
  4. vigorously and forcefully expressed, executed, performed, etc., as if by the use of a great deal of muscular power.

    a muscular response to terrorism.

  5. broad and energetic, especially with the implication that subtlety and grace are lacking.

    a muscular style.

  6. reflected in physical activity and work.

    a muscular religion.

  7. Informal. having or showing power; powerful.

    a muscular vehicle.


muscular British  
/ ˈmʌskjʊlə, ˌmʌskjʊˈlærɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. having well-developed muscles; brawny

  2. of, relating to, or consisting of muscle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • intermuscular adjective
  • intermuscularity noun
  • intermuscularly adverb
  • muscularity noun
  • muscularly adverb
  • nonmuscular adjective
  • nonmuscularly adverb
  • postmuscular adjective
  • submuscular adjective
  • submuscularly adverb
  • unmuscular adjective
  • unmuscularly adverb

Etymology

Origin of muscular

1675–85; < Latin mūscul ( us ) muscle + -ar 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The “Lynch Fragments” were small, compact and muscular sculptures.

From The Wall Street Journal

He resembles Parker but is more muscular than my slender friend.

From Literature

It regulated fixed smog sources, mostly businesses, across nearly 11,000 square miles, sometimes against muscular industry resistance, and sometimes losing.

From Los Angeles Times

The biopharma company reported its first clinical results from two programs for different types of muscular dystrophy.

From Barron's

Unlike the soft, pliable versions of the Christ child in his early Madonnas, this is a monumental, muscular putto, using his strength to hold that garland aloft.

From The Wall Street Journal