muscular

Adjective

muscular (comparative more muscular, superlative most muscular)

1. (relational) Of, 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...
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, sinewy, strapping

3. Having large, well-developed muscles.

   Synonyms:

   beefy, brawny, buff, husky, musclebound, muscled, muscly, powerfully built, swole, well-built

4. (figuratively) Robust, strong.
   • 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...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