muscular
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to muscle or the muscles.
muscular strain.
-
dependent on or affected by the muscles.
muscular strength.
-
having well-developed muscles; brawny.
-
vigorously and forcefully expressed, executed, performed, etc., as if by the use of a great deal of muscular power.
a muscular response to terrorism.
-
broad and energetic, especially with the implication that subtlety and grace are lacking.
a muscular style.
-
reflected in physical activity and work.
a muscular religion.
-
Informal. having or showing power; powerful.
a muscular vehicle.
adjective
-
having well-developed muscles; brawny
-
of, relating to, or consisting of muscle
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of muscular
Explanation
If you're strong and athletic, with powerfully developed muscles, you can describe yourself as muscular. Weight lifters are muscular, and so is the Incredible Hulk. If your grandmother has worked as a cattle farmer her entire life, she is probably pretty muscular too. Anyone with strong muscles can be described as muscular. In the 1600's, the word simply meant "pertaining to muscles," but by the mid-1700's, muscular specifically referred to well-developed muscles. The root word is the Latin musculus, which, oddly enough, means both "muscle" and "little mouse."
Vocabulary lists containing muscular
Vigorous Vocab: Synonyms for "Strong"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
STAAR Biology: Biological Processes and Systems
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Organisms and Environments 5: Human Systems
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
In 2005 the long-haired, muscular teenage sensation announced himself to the world by winning the French Open at his first attempt, beating world number one Roger Federer in the semi-finals on his 19th birthday.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
His muscular tone, rhythmic attack and roaming improvisational style set him apart and inspired several generations of tenor saxophonists, including John Coltrane, Joe Henderson and Branford Marsalis.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
A muscular female soprano — Chi’cas Reid — dominates the vocal mix, with Ayers’ mellow baritone in a supporting role.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
"Because women ages 80 and older are the fastest growing U.S. age group, the importance of monitoring and maintaining muscular strength will have huge public health implications in the coming decades," he says.
From Science Daily • May 12, 2026
One was an embarrassingly young man with a face no older than the boys' faces at school on top of a large, muscular man's body.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
