muscular

comparative more muscular · superlative most muscular

1. relationalOf, relating to, or connected with muscles.

   It was an effort of the mind, of the will, of the nerves; not muscular, for I could not move even so much as my little finger, but none the less mighty for all that.

   1912 February–July, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Under the Moons of Mars”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as “The Escape of the Dead”, in A Princess of Mars, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., October 1917, →OCLC, page 18

2. Brawny, thewy, having strength.

   It was a strange figure—like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, [...] The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength.

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Two. The First of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 43

   Synonyms: athletic, beefy, brawny, husky, lusty, muscled, muscly, powerful

3. Having large, well-developed muscles.

   Synonyms: beefy, brawny, buff, husky, musclebound, muscled, muscly, powerfully built

4. figurativelyRobust, strong.

   Playing out now, with Florida leading, is one of the most muscular policing movements in modern times.

   2025 May 13, Patrik Jonsson, “Beat cops to game wardens, Florida expands ‘army’ of immigration enforcers”, in The Christian Science Monitor

   2 more examples

   Future prime ministers may struggle to replicate the sort of muscular countrywide support that [Narendra] Modi was able to earn.

   2014 July 9, Samanth Subramanian, “India after English?”, in The New York Review of Books, archived from the original on 10 Sep 2019

   The conservative movement faces real internal contradictions. On the one hand, there is deep skepticism of Washington-based power — think of the tea party and its “Don’t tread on me” bumper stickers. On the other, there is an eager embrace of a muscular view of the presidency for Trump, and before him, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.

   2025 February 26, Aziz Huq, “Conservatives on the Supreme Court May Not Fully Align With Trump”, in Politico

   Synonyms: vigorous

5. Full-bodied

   muscular wine