muscular

muscular — adjective

1. involving or affecting the body's muscle tissue — used especially when talking a

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

involving or affecting the body's muscle tissue — used especially when talking about how muscles work, feel, or become injured

Example

João had muscular pain in his lower back after lifting heavy boxes all day.

collocation: muscular pain

The doctor explained that the muscular tissue around Naoko's knee needed time to heal.

collocation: muscular tissue

Common collocations
  • pain
  • injury
  • tissue
  • system
  • strength
  • fatigue
  • contraction
  • dystrophy
  • strain
  • spasm
Synonyms
  • muscle

    used as an attributive noun ('muscle pain') instead of the adjective; less formal than muscular

  • myo-

    prefix form used in medical terminology (myocardial, myopathy); not a standalone word

Grammar Patterns

muscular + noun

be + muscular

Usage Note

Frequently found in medical, fitness, and biology writing. Common noun partners include pain, injury, tissue, system, and fatigue. Distinguish from sense 2 — this sense describes an anatomical relationship to muscles, not a person's physique or build.

Common Mistakes

The doctor checked her muscle tissue.
The doctor checked her muscular tissue.
'muscle' is a noun; 'muscular' is the adjective form needed to modify 'tissue'.

2. having a body with strong, clearly visible muscles, usually because of regular e

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a body with strong, clearly visible muscles, usually because of regular exercise or physical work

Example

After three years of weight training, Dario's shoulders and arms became noticeably more muscular.

become + muscular with visible result

The magazine cover showed a muscular young woman lifting a barbell above her head.

attributive: muscular + person

Common collocations
  • build
  • body
  • arms
  • chest
  • physique
  • shoulders
  • back
  • legs
  • frame
  • figure
Synonyms
  • brawny

    emphasises large, bulky muscles; slightly informal and suggests heaviness

  • well-built

    broader and more neutral; can describe an attractive physique without being extremely large

  • burly

    big and strong with a thick, heavy body; often used for large men

  • sinewy

    lean with visible strong muscles, but not bulky

Antonyms
  • puny

    small and weak; opposite of having well-developed muscles

  • scrawny

    thin in an unattractive or weak way

Grammar Patterns

muscular + noun

be + muscular

look + muscular

become + muscular

Usage Note

Typically describes a person's physical appearance. Can also refer to animals (a muscular horse) or body parts (muscular arms). Frequently used with become, look, or grow to show change. Distinguish from sense 1 — 'muscular pain' is about muscles anatomically, not about having big muscles.

Common Mistakes

He has a very muscle body.
He has a very muscular body.
'muscle' is a noun; use the adjective 'muscular' to describe someone's build.

3. forceful and confident in style — describing speeches, writing, policies, or per

3.adjectiveC1
Definition

forceful and confident in style — describing speeches, writing, policies, or personal qualities that show strength and determination

Example

The politician delivered a muscular speech that won applause from both supporters and undecided voters.

collocation: muscular speech

The novel is praised for its muscular prose — direct, energetic, and free of unnecessary words.

collocation: muscular prose

Common collocations
  • speech
  • prose
  • style
  • approach
  • logic
  • policy
  • character
  • rhetoric
  • language
Synonyms
  • forceful

    more common and neutral; works in the same contexts without the figurative stretch

  • vigorous

    energetic and lively; slightly less about forcefulness and more about vitality

  • powerful

    broader in meaning; can describe writing, arguments, or performances

  • robust

    strong and healthy in character or style; suggests resilience rather than aggression

Antonyms
  • weak

    lacking force or conviction

  • feeble

    lacking strength or effectiveness; stronger negative connotation than weak

  • timid

    shy and lacking confidence; opposite of forceful expression

Grammar Patterns

muscular + noun

Usage Note

Entirely figurative — does not describe physical strength. Typically modifies abstract nouns: speech, prose, style, approach, logic, policy, or character. Most common in literary criticism, political commentary, and business writing. Less common than senses 1 and 2.

Common Mistakes

The manager's muscular approach was scary.
The manager's muscular approach was forceful.
'muscular' in this sense does not mean physically frightening; use 'forceful' or 'aggressive' if clarity is needed.

Word family

  • muscle
    nounB1
  • muscularity
    nounC1
  • muscularly
    adverbC1
  • musculature
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All four words describe a physically strong body, but they differ in what kind of strength they emphasise. Brawny suggests large, bulky muscles — the kind you notice immediately — and can imply heaviness or a rough appearance (a brawny construction worker). Well-built is the most neutral and positive term; it simply means the body looks strong and attractive without focusing on size (a well-built swimmer). Burly describes someone who is big, thick, and strong all over, often with a large frame (a burly security guard). Sinewy is the opposite of bulky — it describes a lean body with long, visible muscles and little body fat, like a dancer or a climber (sinewy arms from years of rock climbing). Muscular sits between brawny and well-built: it clearly states that the muscles are developed and visible, without the extra connotations of heaviness (brawny) or leanness (sinewy).

brawnywell-built ↗burlysinewy

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Muscular comes from the Latin word musculus, meaning 'a muscle' — literally 'a little mouse,' because the Romans thought a flexing biceps looked like a mouse moving under the skin. The suffix -ar means 'relating to,' so muscular means 'relating to muscles.' The word entered English in the late 1300s through French (musculaire). The figurative sense (powerful language, forceful character) developed in the 1800s as writers began using the physical strength of muscles as a metaphor for vigour and determination.