muscular
MUHS-kyuul-uh
Muscular (adj) means having well-developed, visible muscles. Example: “Years of training gave him a muscular build.”
adj
1
Having well-developed, visible muscles.
"Years of training gave him a muscular build."
"The statue depicted a muscular warrior."
"The swimmer had broad shoulders and a lean, muscular back."
2
Relating to muscles.
"She was diagnosed with a muscular disorder affecting her legs."
"The doctor said the pain was caused by a muscular strain in his shoulder."
"Muscular tissue contracts when it receives a signal from the nerves."
3
Forceful, strong, or assertive, especially describing an approach or style.
"The government took a more muscular stance on trade."
"The new manager promised a muscular response to the falling sales figures."
"Critics praised the author's muscular prose, which never wasted a word."
How to use muscular
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPhysically strong-looking (or, figuratively, forceful and assertive).
Common pairings
muscular build
muscular arms
muscular approach
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more muscular
- Superlative
- most muscular
Fill the gap
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Years of training gave him a _____ build.
Etymology
From muscle plus the adjective suffix -ar, matching the French musculaire.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for muscular
See all rhymes for muscular →Frequently asked questions
What does “muscular” mean?
The word “muscular” means having well-developed, visible muscles. In plain terms, physically strong-looking (or, figuratively, forceful and assertive).
How do you pronounce “muscular”?
“Muscular” is pronounced MUHS-kyuul-uh (/ˈmʌs.kjə.lɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “muscular” in a sentence?
Here is “muscular” used in a sentence: “Years of training gave him a muscular build.”
What part of speech is “muscular”?
“Muscular” is an adjective.
Where does the word “muscular” come from?
The word “muscular” comes from French. From muscle plus the adjective suffix -ar, matching the French musculaire.
Is “muscular” a common word?
“Muscular” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “muscular” have?
“Muscular” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having well-developed, visible muscles.
What is the difference between muscular and strong?
Muscular specifically describes having well-developed, visible muscles, referring to physical appearance and build, while strong describes the capacity to exert force and can apply even to someone without a visibly muscular physique. A person can be strong without looking muscular, and vice versa, though the two traits often go together.
What does it mean to call an approach or style "muscular"?
Used figuratively, muscular describes an approach or style that is forceful, strong, or assertive, such as "a muscular foreign policy" or "muscular prose." This sense extends the physical idea of visible strength to describe forcefulness in action or expression.
Is muscular only used to describe people's bodies?
No, muscular is also used in a medical sense relating to muscles generally, as in "muscular tissue" or "muscular disorders," and figuratively to describe forceful styles or approaches, as in "a muscular argument." It is not limited to describing physical build.
