brawny

[ braw-nee ]

adjective

, brawn·i·er, brawn·i·est.

1. muscular; strong.

   Synonyms: strapping, robust, burly

   Antonyms: frail, slight, weak

brawny

/ ˈbrɔːnɪ /

adjective

1. muscular and strong

Derived Forms

• ˈbrawniness, noun
• ˈbrawnily, adverb

Other Words From

• brawni·ly adverb
• brawni·ness noun
• un·brawny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of brawny¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; brawn, -y ¹

Example Sentences

For those who want a lunch bag with a more masculine personality, the HSD Thermal Lunch Box Tote is the brawniest way to carry your PB&J into the workplace.

From Popular-Science

After the revamp, the series became driven by its characters, especially the characters who looked like brawny Marvel superheroes and could drive as well as they threw a punch.

From Washington Post

Using a brawny seven-foot robotic arm, Perseverance can extend and swivel the nearly 100-pound instrumentation hub to park its discerning eyes just inches away from rocks of interest.

From Popular-Science

Richness is the key here, as these are particularly brawny wines.

From Eater

One case involved Jaden Ruiz, a brawny, brown-haired boy who lives with his parents, Ivan and Maria, in Avondale.

From ProPublica

The brawny, righteous warrior Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie).

From The Daily Beast

Persevering on hearsay, spun and shifted from every possible angle, the narrator next describes Golovan—a brawny man, with a limp.

From The Daily Beast

Plus Neeson, with his towering height, brawny physique, and gravelly voice, sure as hell looks the part.

From The Daily Beast

These were the orthopedic surgeons to be, and they tended toward the brawny side, except for one glamorous blond in their midst.

From The Daily Beast

Turns out, the trope of the brawny grandma was no false advertising.

From The Daily Beast

Week in, week out, Jim Billings led that hard life, and he grew up brawny and sound in spite of all his troubles.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw the bulky body of a man approaching middle age, yet full of rough, brawny substance and weather-tried endurance.

From Project Gutenberg

A hundred brawny arms, accustomed to wield the broad axe, had lent their aid to rear the mighty pile and feed the ravening flame.

From Project Gutenberg

Moose-skin moccasins cased their feet, and their brawny, sunburned necks were bare.

From Project Gutenberg

The seaman gently took it and gave it a timid pressure, as if he feared to crush it in his brawny hand.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beefy
• bulky
• burly
• sinewy
• strapping
• sturdy